Implied media networks

ABSTRACT

A system and/or media network for rendering a media stream from one or more media rendering devices is disclosed. The media network may include one or more configurable peers, each configurable peer configurable as a rendering device, an observer, a processing device, a combination thereof, or the like. The system may be particularly suitable for use in remote locations, to generate a controlled and/or shared meeting topology within an uncontrolled media environment, and/or to generate an intense sound field amongst a group of participants from a collection of associated peers.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure is directed towards networks, systems, andmethods for forming media networks from loosely coordinated mediarendering devices. More specifically, the disclosure is directed towardsnetworks, systems, and methods for generating a shared audio sound fieldamongst a collection of audio rendering devices.

Background

Mobile technologies and consumer electronic devices (CED) continue toexpand in use and scope throughout the world. Several aspects ofprofessional media systems (audio and visual systems) that have beentraditionally implemented with expensive, custom installations maypotentially be implemented in consumer applications with the advent ofmore cost effective mobile and consumer electronic technologies. Inparallel with continued proliferation of CEDs, there has been rapidtechnical advance of device hardware and components, leading toincreased computing power and incorporation of new peripherals onboarddevices along with reductions in device size, power consumption, etc.

In many circumstances, such devices lack the basic sound qualitynecessary for providing a truly high fidelity sound experience. Audioexperience is just one of many factors considered in the design ofconsumer electronic devices. Often, the quality of audio systems,loudspeakers, etc. are compromised in favor of other design factors suchas cost, visual appeal, form factor, screen real-estate, case materialselection, hardware layout, and assembly considerations amongst others.Many of these competing factors are favored at the expense of the audioquality, as determined by the audio drivers, component layout,loudspeakers, material and assembly considerations, housing design, etc.

In addition, consumers continue to demand more streamlined experiences,without the hassle of configuration, product specific setup, andtraining. In many cases, a consumer may expect a new device workimmediately out of the box. Multiple configuration steps necessary toestablish and maintain communication between devices may adverselyaffect user experience and potentially turn away new customers.

Network topologies for streaming media to one or more rendering devicescontinue to evolve and standardize. Thus emerging network configurationsfor maintaining functions important for media consumption are becomingmore widely available (e.g. audio over IP solutions, standards networkimplementations, etc.).

Related to conferencing applications, simultaneous translation may beprovided with specialized headsets and FM transceivers. Adoption and useof these systems is often limited by the number of available channels,the need for application specific hardware necessary for implementation,and the associated costs. Participants without the specific hardware maynot be able to access the translated broadcasts. Furthermore, suchsystems are often unidirectional broadcasts and may not be configured toprovide free flow of discussion between participants.

Such media network components must routinely handle a range of signaltypes (e.g. audio signals, video signals, sensory data, etc.), arisingfrom a variety of sources.

Systems and devices issues as described above are of particularrelevance to the areas of audio processing, video processing andtelemetry applications.

SUMMARY

One objective of this disclosure is to provide an efficient andcost-effective media rendering network. Another objective is to generatea controlled sound field from a loosely coordinated network of renderingdevices. Yet another objective is to provide a media network configuredto minimize user setup requirements and maximize ease-of-use. Yetanother objective is to provide a media network for recording a mediafield in a venue. Another objective is to provide a media network forautomatically coordinating the rendering of a media stream from aplurality of peers on the network. Yet another objective is to provide amedia network for generating a shared sound field amongst a collectionof peers.

The above objectives are wholly or partially met by networks, systems,and methods according to the appended claims in accordance with thepresent disclosure. In particular, features and aspects of the presentdisclosure are set forth in the appended claims, in the followingdescription, and in the annexed drawings.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided, amethod for rendering a media stream with one or more peers over anetwork including designating one or more of the peers as renderingdevices for rendering the media stream, each rendering device includingat least one rendering property affecting the rendering of mediatherefrom; providing network connections between one or more peers, theconnections supporting a media service; providing the media stream to atleast one of the peers; distributing at least a portion of the mediastream or a stream generated therefrom to each of the rendering devices;and compensating for at least one of the rendering properties on atleast a portion of the media stream or a stream generated therefrom.

The step of compensating may be performed by the media service, and/orat least one of the peers. The media service may coordinate and/orsynchronize the media rendering on one or more of the rendering devices.One or more of the rendering parameters may be a latency parameter, anacoustic parameter, an audio lag, an audio spectral response, an audioglitch, an echo, a sound pressure level, combinations thereof, and thelike. The step of compensating may include adjusting the latencyparameter to synchronize the media rendering on one or more of therendering devices.

One or more of the peers may report one or more parameters relating toone or more of its rendering properties, computational capabilities,available resources, available energy reserve, and/or a combinationthereof to one or more peers on the local area network.

The step of determining the location of one or more peers in the networkmay be performed using a localization algorithm in accordance with thepresent disclosure. The method may include listening to the renderedmedia generated by one or more of the peers. The listening may be usedas an input to the localization algorithm.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided a medianetwork for rendering a media stream, including a plurality of peersconnected via a local area network, at least one peer configured as arendering device including one or more rendering properties, therendering device configured to accept at least a portion of the mediastream or a stream generated therefrom and to produce an individualrendered stream, the relationship between the accepted stream and theindividual rendered stream dependent upon the rendering properties; anda media service configured to distribute at least a portion of the mediastream or a stream generated therefrom over the local area network tothe rendering device, the media service and/or one or more of the peersconfigured to calculate a compensation factor for and/or adjust at leasta portion of the media stream to compensate for at least one renderingproperty of the rendering device so as to adjust the individual renderedstream.

One or more of the peers may be a consumer electronics device. Somenon-limiting examples of a consumer electronic device include asmartphone, a tablet computer, a stereo sound system, a loudspeaker, atelevision, a headset, a heads up display, a combination thereof, or thelike.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided a medianetwork for generating a controlled and/or shared media field within anenvironment from a media stream, the media network including a pluralityof peers connected via a local area network, one or more peers arrangedat physical locations within the environment; a media service todistribute the media stream and/or streams generated therefrom over thelocal area network to one or more of the peers; one or more of the peersconfigured as rendering devices, one or more of the rendering devicesconfigured to receive an input stream and to render at least a portionof the input stream to form a local rendered stream, the local renderedstream contributing to the media field; and one or more of the peersconfigured as an observer, at least one of the observers configured toevaluate at least a portion of the media field at the correspondingphysical location, and to generate a correction signal and/or a sourcesignal therefrom.

One or more peers and/or the distribution system may be configured toadjust one or more of the local rendered streams based on the correctionsignal.

One or more of the observers may include a microphone to evaluate anaudio aspect of the media field, a light sensor to evaluate a visualaspect of the media field, and/or a chemical sensor to evaluate anolfactory aspect of the media field.

One or more peers may be a source and/or a user input device, configuredto generate the media stream. The media stream may include spatialdistribution information pertaining to how the media stream is meant tobe played at one or more locations in the media field.

The media network may include a camera, a stereoscopic camera, and/or a3D camera system to characterize the location of one or more of thepeers and/or the location of a user with respect to one or more of thepeers. By user is meant a human who may interact with the media networkvia one or more peers.

One or more of the rendering devices may be configured to play differentportions of the stream dependent on their physical location within theenvironment.

One or more observers and/or rendering devices may be configured to movethroughout the environment (i.e. configured as a mobile peer within themedia network).

The media network may include a localization algorithm configured todetermine the location of one or more peers within the environment. Oneor more peers may include a WiFi module, a near field communicationsensor, an audio localization system, and/or an LED based communicationsystem, configured to provide signals to the localization algorithm.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided a medianetwork for rendering a media stream, including: a plurality of peersconnected via a local area network, one or more peers configured asrendering devices, each rendering device including one or more renderingproperties, each of the rendering devices configured to receive an inputstream and to render at least a portion of the input stream to producean individual rendered stream, the individual rendered stream dependentupon the rendering properties; and a media service configured todistribute at least a portion of the media stream over the local areanetwork to the rendering devices, one or more of the peers, and/or themedia service configured to adjust one or more individual renderedstream to compensate for at least one rendering property of at least onerendering device.

One or more of the peers may be configured as a media source, the mediasource configured to provide the media stream to one or more peers viathe media service. One or more of the peers may be configured to providea portal to a wide area network configured to receive or send at least aportion of the media stream.

The media service may include a real-time transport protocol configuredto synchronize two or more of the individual rendered streams.

The media network may include one or more observers in accordance withthe present disclosure each arranged at a location within the mediafield. One or more observers may be configured to monitor the mediafield to generate a correction signal, the media service configured toreceive the correction signal.

The media network may include a compensation algorithm, the compensationalgorithm configured to generate a virtual peer at a predeterminedlocation within the media field.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided a medianetwork for rendering a media stream, including: a plurality of peersconnected via a local area network; a media service configured todistribute at least a portion of the media stream or a stream derivedtherefrom over the local area network to one or more of the peers; andan automatic or semiautomatic configuration service configured togenerate a selection criteria based upon one or more networkconfiguration parameters; at least one of the peers selectivelyconfigurable as a rendering device for rendering the media stream basedupon the selection criteria.

One or more of the peers may be selectively configurable as an observerfor assessing quality criteria for the media stream. One or more of theconfiguration parameters may depend on the quality criteria. One or moreof the configuration parameters may include a location parameter, asocial parameter, a capabilities parameter, and/or combinations thereof.

The media network may include a spatially organized group, the spatiallyorganized group may be defined by a spatially organized zone, and one ormore of the peers located within the zone defined by the spatiallyorganized group.

One or more of the peers configured to interact with a user and/orlocate a user within the media field. The selection criteria may bedependent upon a network topological configuration, proximity betweenone or more of the peers, proximity between one or more peers and theuser, and/or proximity between one or more of the peers and thespatially organized group.

The media service may include a localization algorithm configured todetermine the location of one or more of the peers within the medianetwork. The media network may include one or more proximity sensors,each proximity sensor configured to generate a location signal. Thelocalization algorithm may be configured to accept one or more of thelocation signals. Some non-limiting examples of proximity sensorsinclude a WiFi module, a near field communication module, an infraredsensor, an LED, a microphone, combinations thereof, and the like.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided amethod for rendering a media stream including: connecting a plurality ofpeers via a local area network including one or more configurationparameters; distributing at least a portion of the media stream or astream derived therefrom over the local area network to one or more ofthe peers; generating a selection criteria based upon one or more of theconfiguration parameters; configuring one or more of the peers as arendering device for rendering the media stream based upon the selectioncriteria; and rendering at least a portion of the media stream with therendering device.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided amethod for generating a controlled and/or shared media field from amedia stream including: providing a plurality of rendering devicesconnected over a local area network; rendering at least a portion of themedia stream and/or signals generated therefrom on each of the renderingdevices to produce a plurality of localized media fields; monitoring thelocalized media fields at one or more locations within an audible and/orvisual range of at least one of the rendering devices; and adjusting therendering of at least one of the rendering devices to control the mediafield based on the monitoring.

The monitoring may be provided by an observer in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

The method may include reconfiguring one or more of the renderingdevices based upon the step of monitoring.

The method may include synthesizing a wave-field with one or more of therendering devices and correcting the wave field based upon themonitoring.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided use ofa media network in accordance with the present disclosure and/or amethod in accordance with the present disclosure in a hotel setting, ahospital setting, a concert setting, an auditorium, a home setting, anoffice setting, and/or combinations thereof.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided a medianetwork for rendering a media stream including: a plurality of peersconnected via a local area network including one or more configurationparameters; a media service configured to distribute at least a portionof the media stream or a stream derived therefrom over the local areanetwork to one or more of the peers; and a configuration serviceconfigured to connect and/or disconnect one or more peers and/or one ormore prospective peers to/from the network based upon the configurationparameters, at least one of the peers selectively configurable as arendering device for rendering the media stream based upon theconfiguration parameters.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided amethod for rendering a media stream including: connecting a plurality ofpeers via a local area network including one or more configurationparameters; distributing at least a portion of the media stream or astream derived therefrom over the local area network to one or more ofthe peers; generating a selection criteria based upon one or more of theconfiguration parameters; configuring one or more of the peers asrendering devices for rendering the media stream based upon theselection criteria; and rendering at least a portion of the media streamwith at least one of the rendering devices.

According to aspects of the present disclosure there is provided amethod for recording a media field in a venue including: monitoring themedia field at a plurality of locations throughout the venue to generatea plurality of individual media streams; determining the coordinates ofthe plurality of locations throughout the venue; and recording one ormore of the individual media streams and one or more of the locationsonto a storage medium.

The step of listening may be performed by one or more microphones, eachmicrophone positioned at one of the locations. The microphones may beincluded in one or more peers in accordance with the present disclosure,each of the peers may be connected by a media network in accordance withthe present disclosure. One or more of the peers may be a consumerelectronics device (e.g. a tablet computer, a smartphone, an iPhone,etc.).

The step of determining the coordinates may be performed by alocalization algorithm in accordance with the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several aspects of the disclosure can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure including a group.

FIG. 3 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure including multiple groups.

FIG. 4 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure to generate a local sound field.

FIG. 5 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure including a visualization device.

FIGS. 7a-b show methods of establishing connections to and renderingmedia on a media network in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8a-b show aspects of a media network in accordance with thepresent disclosure configured for a meeting session.

FIGS. 9a-d show aspects of methods for managing a media network inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure configured for use in a large venue setting.

FIGS. 11a-b show aspects of wave field synthesis and/or correction witha media network in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 12a-b show aspects of wave field synthesis and/or correction witha media network in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure configured for use in a multi-room setting.

FIG. 14 shows an audio enhancement system included in a peer inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 shows an encoding scheme for implementation between one or morepeers inclusion in a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are describedhereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, thedisclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure and may beembodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are notdescribed in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure inunnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butmerely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentdisclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Likereference numerals may refer to similar or identical elements throughoutthe description of the figures.

Some aspects described herein are associated with “arbitrary” samplingrates (e.g., arbitrary source or destination sampling rates). As usedhere, the term “arbitrary” may refer to any sampling rate that is notpre-determined (e.g., that is not known when a sample rate conversionsystem is designed). It is understood that in other some other aspectsdescribed herein the sampling rates may also pertain to “fixed rate” andpredetermined sample rate implementations.

Moreover, as used herein lowercase variables will declare sequences inthe time domain, while uppercase variables will declare frequencyrepresentations (e.g., x is a sequence represented in the time domainwhile X is the same variable represented in the frequency domain). Thesubscript _(n) is used to represent the time index of sequences in thetime domain (e.g. x_(n)). Different subscript letters are used torepresent different sample rates related to a time index of sequences inthe time domain (e.g. x_(n), y_(b), z_(k), etc.).

Media networks, implied media networks, and implied audio networks inaccordance with the present disclosure may be created amongst aplurality of rendering devices such as loudspeaker stacks, home mediacenters, local broadcasting systems, consumer electronic devices, etc.Some non-limiting examples of consumer electronic devices include anactive loudspeaker, an amplifier, a cellular phone (e.g. a smartphone),a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a portable media player, atelevision, a portable gaming device, a gaming console, a gamingcontroller, a remote control, an appliance (e.g. a toaster, arefrigerator, a bread maker, a microwave, a vacuum cleaner, etc.), apower tool (a drill, a blender, etc.), a robot (e.g. an autonomouscleaning robot, a care giving robot, etc.), a toy (e.g. a doll, afigurine, a construction set, a tractor, etc.), a greeting card, a homeentertainment system, etc.

In some aspects, an audio rendering device may participate in the medianetwork, even if configured with an exceedingly low cost audiotransducer. In this non-limiting example, the low cost audio renderingdevice may accept a low latency preprocessed signal for immediaterendering.

In the case of a mobile or battery operated consumer electronic device,such as a portable gaming device, the device (i.e. the audio renderingdevice) may be configured to enhance the shared sound field locallywhile minimizing power usage, thus extending the battery life, reducingonboard heat generation, etc.

As used herein, the term “local media/sound field” may refer to themedia/sound field produced by and in the vicinity of one or more peersin a media network in accordance with the present disclosure. The term“shared media/sound field” may refer to the media/sound field observedand/or rendered by a plurality of peers in the network.

A media network may include a plurality of peers. Each peer may beconfigured to provide a function to support network operation, providecomputational resources, render of one or more media streams on thenetwork, and/or observe rendered media within the shared media field ofthe network.

In one non-limiting example the media network may support a mediastreaming aspect (e.g. a media service) as described herein todistribute media to one or more peers in the media network. The mediastreaming aspect and/or timing aspects may be coordinated by a medianetwork or one or more service layers therein. Some non-limitingexamples of time coordinating services may be included in a precisiontime protocol (PTP), RAVENNA, Dante, Android@home, AirPlay, SonosNetworks, combinations thereof, and the like.

The media network may include a localization aspect (e.g. a localizationalgorithm) used to determine the particular location of one or morepeers in the network. The localization aspect of the network may feedone or more functions, services and/or parameters of the media streamingaspect.

The media network may include one or more links to other networks, suchas social networks, wide area networks, peer to peer networks, messagingnetworks, smart energy networks, home appliance networks, etc. wherebyone or more peers in the media network may communicate privately withone or more peers in the other network or within the media network viaone or more media types (e.g. audio, text, video, sound, emoticon,etc.).

The media network may include one or more media enhancement aspects(e.g. an audio enhancement system, audio enhancement algorithms, etc.)in accordance with the present disclosure. The media enhancement aspectsmay include services for synchronizing media transfer between one ormore peers (rendering devices, general peers, etc.), correcting forlatency associated with one or more rendering device, a network relatedlatency, correcting for position of one or more peers in the network,compensation for one or more rendering property of a peer in the medianetwork, movement of one or more peers within a shared media fieldgenerated by one or more peers in the media network, or the like.

In one non-limiting example the media network may include one or moremedia services to determine and/or direct aspects of a media stream(e.g. one or more audio channels, one or more audio bands, photorenderings, orchestral instrumentation, etc.), to one or more peers inthe media network. Different peers in the media network may receivealternative media streams, different aspects of media streams, and thelike. One or more peers may be configured to repeat streams so as toeffectively transfer them throughout the network during use. Suchretransmission may be used to extend the network over a larger operatingenvironment (i.e. such as between rooms in a multi-room environment,between wireless network spaces, etc.). In one non-limiting example oneor more wired peers may be used to transfer data between two or moreotherwise unconnected wireless sub-groups within the media network.

The media network may include one or more quality of service algorithmsto compensate for high latency rendering devices. In one non-limitingexample the network may include a quality of service configured so as toset a maximum latency parameter dependent on the media stream, operatingenvironment, and/or one or more peer capabilities on the network. In onenon-limiting example a musical audio stream may be configured with alonger latency parameter while an audio-visual stream may be configuredwith a shorter latency parameter so as to better synchronize the audioand video aspects of the stream. The quality of service algorithm may beconfigured so as to automatically reconfigure the latency parameterdepending on the network configuration and/or the content of the mediastream. A rendering device that cannot operationally maintain thenecessary latency may be excluded in order for the network to deliver ahigh quality stream to a user. The latency and/or synchronizationalgorithms may be configured as adjustable such that highly accuratetiming may be provided in a shared sound field but may be relaxed wheninter-group cross talk is not as important (such as between rooms in abuilding, between hotel rooms, etc.).

The network may include one or more services (e.g. configurationservices) for configuring and/or updating the latency parameter. In onenon-limiting example, the service may be configured to providesub-sample precision latency parameters. Such precise latencyconfigurations may be advantageous for configuring highly accuratewave-field reproduction, adjusting wave propagation timing amongstmultiple peers within a sound field, etc. In one non-limiting example,sub sample latency may be enabled in combination with an asynchronoussample rate converter (ASRC) in accordance with the present disclosure.The ASRC may be configured to up-sample incoming media streams so as toincrease the time-resolution thereof as necessary for the intendedapplication. Such a configuration may be advantageous for implementinghighly accurate wave field synthesis with the media network, forimplementing highly accurate delays (timing between samples).

The media network may support one or more distribution protocols, suchas a pulse width modulated pre-compensation protocol in accordance withthe present disclosure in order to alleviate the workload on one or moreresource constrained peers in the network. Thus a PWM pre-compensationprotocol may be used to alleviate resource requirements on the slowestdevices, designating processing centers where resources are available(e.g. on a server, etc.). Additionally, alternatively, or in combinationthe network may include one or more distributed processing servicesconfigured to process one or more aspects of the media stream on anyavailable peer one the network with available resources. Such aconfiguration may be advantageous for alleviating computational loadfrom those devices that may be overly resource constrained (i.e. so asto allow those devices to just receive, play, respond, etc.).

The media network may include a configuration service to autonomouslyconfigure peers to render one or more aspects of a stream based upon oneor more of the other services (a localization service, a networkconfiguration service, etc.). In one non-limiting example, the medianetwork may include an automatic configuration service for determiningwhen a rendering device may transition from providing a first mediastream or aspect thereof to another media stream or alternative aspectthereof (e.g. transitioning from a stereo stream to a left rear stream,transitioning from a first media stream to a second media stream, etc.).

The media network may include a watermarking service configured towatermark the one or more media streams, perhaps particular to arendering source (e.g. watermarking the stream to identify that it hasbeen rendered by a unique rendering source, etc.). The watermarkingservice may be configured to extract watermarks from an observed stream(e.g. as observed by a peer in the network) so as to determinecontributions to the rendered stream by one or more rendering sources(e.g. peers configured so as to render the stream), triangulation ofrendering sources in the media network, and the like.

Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, watermarking servicesmay be configured to at least partially localize one or more renderingsources within the media network during operation and optionally atleast some aspects of changes in the positioning of rendering sourceswithin the media network during operation. One or more aspects of thewatermark may include network credentials for automatic connection ofperspective peers entering the sound field of the media network, inclose proximity to the media network, a particular group and/or zonewithin the media network, etc.

One or more networks and/or concepts disclosed herein may be amendablefor use with a range of network topologies. Some examples of networktopologies include IP-based topologies, local area networks, etc.Generally speaking, the network topology may preferably providecharacteristics such as low-latency, scalability, redundancy andsynchronicity upon which the media network services may be provided.Some existing topologies that may provide adequate basic servicefunctions and/or aspects thereof include RAVENNA, DLNA, HomePlay,HD-PLC, AirPlay, Android@Home, WiFi, Ethernet, LANs (wired or wireless),wireless topologies (star, tree, line, mesh, etc.).

The media network may communicate with a low data rate home appliancenetwork such as provided by HomePlug and/or KNX. In one non-limitingexample, the home appliance network may include an (optionally) low datarate transfer service for controlling appliances within a home and/oroffice setting (such as controlling lighting, blinds, thermostats,colorimetric lighting aspects, fan noise reduction, refreshmentstations, etc.). The media network may include an environmental controlservice configured to adjust one or more appliances in an associatedhome appliance network. The environmental control service may beconfigured so as to automatically control one or more of the appliancesbased on one or more associated media streaming aspects and/orlocalization aspects. In one non-limiting example, room lighting may beautomatically dimmed when a media stream (e.g. a movie) begins playbackon a local rendering device (e.g. a television). Alternatively, roomlighting may be adjusted to accommodate movement of a user throughoutthe media field (e.g. if a high priority peer moves through a mediafield, etc.).

The media network may include functionality for managing low levelstreaming operations, clock domain, sync information, etc. for use in anassociated session description protocol. One or more aspects of theconcepts may be layered upon one of the basic topologies describedherein in order to add the necessary functionality for generating amedia network in accordance with the present disclosure there upon (e.g.as an application-specific software module, etc.).

In one example, a real-time transport protocol (RTP) is used to providestreaming of media throughout the network, a subgroup, or the like. RTPmay provide end-to-end network transport functions suitable fortransmitting real-time data, such as audio, video, telemetered data,simulation data, etc. to one or more rendering devices in the network.The RTP may address resource reservation and/or guaranteequality-of-service for real-time services provided on the network.Alternatively, additionally, or in combination, such functions may beprovided by an alternative network service, which may use the RTP forstreaming functionality only. The data transport may be augmented by acontrol protocol (RTCP) to allow monitoring of the data delivery in amanner scalable to larger and/or ad hoc networks, and/or to provideminimal control and identification functionality as needed by thenetwork. RTP and RTCP may be configured to be independent of theunderlying transport and network layers. The protocol may support theuse of RTP-level translators and mixers.

The RTP may be provided on top of a communication protocol such asTCP/IP or UDP/IP, which may provide several data services notnecessarily provided by the IP layer such as providing port numbers tohelp distinguish different peer requests and, optionally, a checksumcapability to verify that the data arrived at the intended designationintact.

A media stream delivered through the media network may be configured asa unicast stream, a multicast stream, may change destinations inreal-time, and/or be split and only partially delivered to one or morerendering devices in the network. In general, multicast streams mayprovide more resource-efficient usage of network links and fasterswitching between available streams in situations, where a certainstream will be accessed at different locations (peers) within thenetwork. Unicast streaming may be advantageous for linking peers withina sub-group, or region of the network for private conversation,messaging events, etc.

A peer configured to receive a stream (e.g. an observer, a renderingdevice, a general peer, etc.) may connect to any existing stream throughan appropriate protocol (e.g. RTSP/SDP protocol, etc.). The receivingpeer may then render one or more aspects of the stream (e.g. video,audio, a portion thereof, etc.) in accordance with the presentdisclosure. Information necessary to properly render the stream may besent along with the stream (e.g. as part of the stream header, etc.) inorder to conveniently adjust local aspects of the stream for rendering.Such information may include, channel selection, sound augmentationparameters, band width preferences, sound pressure level, preferred,delay (e.g. as provided by a spatialization/localization service, amicrophone extracted timing delay, etc.). In one non-limiting example, areceiver may use a RTSP/SDP protocol, which is supported by a wide rangeof media players.

In aspects, a prospective device (a prospective peer, prospective sourcedevice and/or rendering device) may attempt to join the media network.The prospective device may then obtain a unique identifier (e.g. an IPaddress, etc.). The prospective device may announce its existence andadvertise information about the available services that it may provideto the network (e.g. IP address and host name, supported protocols,access information, information about available streams, minimumperformance guarantees, etc.). After the initial configuration, theprospective device may be promoted to peer status, becoming a peer inthe media network. In one non-limiting example, service advertisementand discovery may be based on the DNS-SD protocol (e.g. within an IPbased implementation, a RAVENNA implementation, etc.).

Streams may be provided without synchronization (e.g. when performingprivate communication between inter group members, etc.). Some streamsmay be multicast and thus subjected to a need for tightly controlledtiming. Thus synchronization and timing delayed functionality may beprovided on top of a phase-accurate synchronization service for mediaclocks (e.g. as per a timing synchronization standard, a precision timeprotocol, AES-11, etc.). The basic synchronization services may beprovided by a lower level network topology such as RAVENNA, HomePlay,etc. onto which particular timing corrections based onspatialization/localization algorithms may be applied. Such timingcorrections may be calculated at rendering devices, supporting peers, asource, etc. as such resources are available by the media network.

In one non limiting example, base level synchronization across allnetwork nodes may be achieved through IEEE1588-2008 (Precision TimeProtocol, PTPv2). PTPv2 may provide means for synchronizing local clocksto a precision in the lower nanoseconds range with reference to arelated master clock, provided that all participating switches nativelysupport PTPv2. Even without PTP support, the precision of an achievablebase synchronization may be sufficient to reach sample accuratesynchronization across each network node.

In some non-limiting examples, sample-accurate synchronization may beachieved across WAN connections (e.g. to virtual participants), whenlocal master clocks on the media network and associated networks on theWAN are synchronized to GPS as a common time domain.

From a state of sample-accurate synchronization, the system may applysound field corrective, feedback based, and/or localization algorithmsin order to adjust the stream playback on rendering devices to accountfor local sound field effects. Such algorithms may be processed locallyat one or more rendering devices, processed by one or more peers in thenetwork with resource surpluses, processed in a shared manner across aplurality of peers in the network, etc. The algorithms may be appliedwith or alongside echo compensation algorithms, watermarking algorithms(e.g. one or more audio watermarks), etc.

A media network in accordance with the present disclosure may includeone or more sound field corrective algorithms. In one non-limitingexample the media may include a sound field corrective algorithmconfigured to automatically establish and/or adjust gain and delaysettings for one or more peers (i.e. so as to optimize a 7.1 surroundsystem configured from a loosely formed grouping of peers on thenetwork). Optionally the network may include one or more algorithms forimplementing active noise cancellation there upon. One or more peers mayinclude a microphone so as to act as a sound field observer. Thealgorithm may be configured to accept feedback from such observers tofurther adjust the sound field produced by the media network.

The sound field correction algorithm may include aspects for adjustingthe sound field based upon localization of one or more peers within thenetwork. In one non-limiting example, the algorithm may be configured toadjust the sound field and/or reconfigure the rendering devices as apriority peer moves throughout the network space. In one usage scenario,the algorithm may be configured to adjust the playback of a media streamas a listener enters into a group within the media network. In one suchexample, the media may play through the ear-buds of a peer and smoothlytransition to a home audio system as the peer enters into the associatedhome. One or more location services may be used to more accurately tracka peer as it moves throughout the media network for use with anassociated sound field adjustment algorithm.

In another usage scenario relating to a large venue, a sound fieldcorrection algorithm may be configured to delay playback on one or moremobile peers within the venue so as to match local playback with awave-front produced by one or more fixed peers (e.g. the main soundstage, a large public announcement system, etc.). Such a configurationmay be advantageous for generating synchronous, local sound enhancementwithout local delay, adding locally targeted media onto a base mediastream, etc. The local nature of sound production from peers may furtherlimit cross talk between sufficiently far away peers in the network(i.e. so as to minimize echo, reverb, etc. during playback).

A media network in accordance with the present disclosure may includeone or more feedback based media correction algorithms. A feedback basedmedia correction algorithm may accept one or more feedback signals froman observer in the media network and so as to locally correct forquality of service, enhance the local field, remove local echo, generatea wave-field, etc. In one non-limiting example, the algorithm may beconfigured for dynamic sound field correction where the sound-field ismonitored locally by a microphone (e.g. on a smartphone, an iPhone®microphone, a fully characterized microphone, etc.) attached to and/orincluded in a peer in the network. The feedback based media correctionalgorithm may adjust the media stream or signal generated therefrom asplayed by one or more peers within the network (e.g. one or more fixedrendering devices, mobile rendering devices, stereo or surround soundstage, etc.), so as to follow (i.e. by proper channel gain, delayadjustment, etc.) the microphone as it moves throughout the associatedmedia field (i.e. as a user moves throughout or between rooms, etc.).The feedback algorithm may accept one or more signals from an associatedlocalization algorithm, from one or more visual localization algorithms(e.g. as obtained from a camera, a stereoscopic camera, a 3D camera, aKinect camera, combinations thereof, etc.) to determine where in themedia field a preferred peer is located (e.g. on a sofa, as multiplepeers situated throughout the space, etc.). In one non-limiting example,a surround system may be implemented using one or more peers (e.g. amulti-channel peer, 7+1 individual peers, etc.).

Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, the correction algorithmmay be configured to perform active noise cancellation at the site ofthe peer. The peer may observe the local sound field, and the associatedcorrective algorithm may determine how the perceived sound field differsfrom the intended sound field (i.e. as determined by one or more aspectsof the media stream itself). The algorithm may add one or more noisecancelation aspects to the media stream or a signal generated therefromso as to preferably adjust the local sound field at the priority peer.

The media network may include configurable spatializationservices/algorithms to provide corrective media rendering data to thenetwork in order to assist with various network functions (e.g. groupformation, group maintenance, group peer exchange, sound fieldgeneration, sound field correction, etc.). Some suitable spatializationmethods include ITD (Interaural Time Difference), ILD (Interaural LevelDifference), HRTF (Head Related Transfer Function), combinationsthereof, and the like.

Spatialization/localization algorithms may be operated locally inapplication specific hardware, audio processors, etc. on a peer, in aserver, or the like. Such a configuration may be advantageous forreducing processor burden associated with calculating adequate timedelays for a stream, etc.

An audio watermark may be embedded into one or more media streams and/orsignals generated therefrom. The watermark may include a spread spectrumaudio watermarking (SSW), a pseudonoise sequence, a timing signal, aquantization scheme, a two-set scheme, a patchwork scheme, amplitudemodification, echo hiding, replica modulation, time-scale modification,beat-scaling transformations, synchronization modulation, zero-crossingsynchronization, salient point extraction, a self-marking scheme, timebased modulation schemes, combinations thereof, or the like. Non-blindwatermarks (e.g. audible watermarks) may be incorporated for use inconfiguration, determining timing delays between peers in the network,etc. Such an audio watermark may be sent to one or more peers to assistwith configuration of the network, localization of one or more peers inthe network, etc. The selected scheme may be combined with one or morepsychoacoustic models to consider inaudibility if desirable in theintended application. In one non-limiting example the media networkincludes a range of replica modulation based watermarks for applicationonto one or more media streams. The replica modulation based watermarksmay be used as a basis function to configure the media network, identifypeers on the network, communicate between peers on the network, identifythe stream properties for one or more prospective peers, provide one ormore identification codes, etc.

In one non-limiting example, the network may include one or more peerseach configured with a personal rendering device (e.g. an ear bud, acochlear implant, a wireless earphone, etc.). Thus the media network maybe configured so as to provide sound field enhancements, overlay privateconversations, etc. into each individual peers rendering stream (i.e.for playback on the associated personal rendering device). Such aconfiguration may be used to provide functionality such as real-timetranslation, wave-field synthesis, etc. in environments with a pluralityof peers (where otherwise, local cross talk between peers may interferewith such functionality).

The audio rendering devices may be used to render a portion of a mediastream (for example, to create a coordinated 3D sound field, to playthose aspects of the media stream most suited to the device, to playthose aspects most suited to the location of a listener, etc.).

One or more of the peers may include a feedback sensor (e.g. amicrophone to sample various aspects of the local sound field, acolorimeter for determining local color field, an ambient light sensor,a camera, a photodetector, a wireless network sniffer, etc.). Such apeer may be configured as an observer. The observer may be configured tosample information from the local rendered media field for use byvarious algorithms and/or services in the media network.

One or more peers in the network may include a proximity sensor (e.g.GPS, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor, a wirelessnetwork sniffer, or the like) to help establish positional relationshipsbetween peers in the network. The proximity sensor may be configured togenerate proximity data that may be made available to the network foruse in adjusting the media streaming aspects, as input to thelocalization aspects, exchanging credentials, or the like.

In aspects, one or more quality of service (QoS) algorithms may be usedto assess the network during operation (e.g. at least some level offunctionality may be provided by services such as DiffServ). DiffServoperates on the principle of traffic classification, where each datapacket is placed into a limited number of traffic classes, rather thandifferentiating network traffic based on the requirements of anindividual stream. Each traffic class may be managed differently,ensuring preferential treatment for higher-priority traffic on thenetwork.

The traffic prioritization scheme may be in part based upon theunderlying service structure. Different priorities may be assigned todifferent classes of traffic. Timing critical streams may receive thehighest priority, followed by proximity based inter-device streams,real-time media traffic, control, and then configuration traffic. Lowestlevel traffic may receive the lowest (standard) priority and will betreated as best-effort traffic to be communicated when resources areavailable.

A media network in accordance with the present disclosure may includesupport for one or more groups or sub-groups. A group or sub-group maybe determined based on a spatial relationship between peers, a locationin space, a social group, a peer priority, etc. Some non-limitingexamples of groups and/or sub-groups are described throughout thedisclosure. In one non-limiting example, a group may be associated witha location (e.g. such as within audio range of a sound field produced byselect rendering devices on a media network, within a defined space,within a room, etc.). Each group and/or sub-group may include one ormore administrators, one or more communicators (e.g. for inter groupcommunication, etc.). An administrator may coordinate activity within agroup, coordinate media transfer within a group, provide a beacon toidentify the group, etc.

The media network may interface with one or more users and/or listeners.A user or listener implies a human observer and may or may not include apeer for interfacing with the network. One or more peers may beconfigured to interface with a user and/or listener so as to interactwith the network, monitor network configurations, select media streams,etc.

The media network may be configured to automatically administeradministrative rights, user priorities, etc. Such peer priority schemesmay provide one or more peers on the media network with privileges suchas the rights to listen, and/or render a media stream, message,broadcast a media stream, source a media stream, etc. Such privilegesmay be restricted to access within a sub-group, between peers within asub-group, throughout the media network, etc. The privileges of a peermay be altered during use based on changing user or administrativepreferences, changes in network configuration, changes in the mediastream priorities, changes in the localization aspects of the peers inthe media network, etc.

Such prioritization schemes may also be applied to general timing eventswithin the network. Such timing events may be more highly prioritizedamongst locally situated peers (e.g. perhaps pertaining to a proximitybased sub-group) while being relaxed amongst remotely coordinated peers(e.g. such as peers in distinctly separated rooms in a hotel, aconference venue, etc.). Thus the overall requirements of the medianetwork may be more optimally managed during use (i.e. so as to minimizeoverall power consumption, network performance requirements, etc. whilemaintaining acceptable quality of service).

One or more peers in the media network may include an audio enhancementsystem in accordance with the present disclosure. The audio enhancementsystem may include one or more parameters representative of the audiorendering properties of the peer. The media network may have an audiocompensation service or algorithm that may accept one or more of theseparameters. The parameters may be incorporated by the media network toexecute the audio enhancement in real-time during the streaming of mediathere upon. In one non-limiting example, one or more aspects of thecomputation associated with the audio enhancement system may be computedon a peer with available resources in the media network. Such aconfiguration may be advantageous for lowering the processing load onthe associated peer (e.g. so as to minimize power consumption thereupon,improve multitasking latency, etc.). The media network may be configuredto shift the calculations from one peer to another based on one or morealgorithms or services configured on the network (i.e. such asdetermined by physical proximity of peers in the network, passage of apeer from one sub-group to another, changing workload priorities,changing power availability, altered location of a listener, etc.). Theparameter management may be performed by a configuration service on thenetwork. In one non-limiting example, one or more peers on the networkmay upload associated rendering parameters in an encrypted form to a“processing” node on the network (e.g. a peer with available processingresources).

One or more peers in the media network may include a PWM precompensationsystem in accordance with the present disclosure. Such a configurationmay be advantageous for providing high quality sound from a low costrendering device in the media network. One or more audio enhancementcalculations may be performed elsewhere in the media network so as tominimize the computational demand on such low cost rendering devices.Media network criteria and other related algorithms may be automaticallyconfigured to update at least one media streaming aspect (e.g. automaticlatency control, local phase control in the broadcast on spec, etc.), toaccommodate for local device deficiencies, etc. Some non-limitingaspects of PWM precompensation schemes are described throughout thedisclosure. Such PWM precompensation approaches may be advantageous forimplementing sound field improvements; media stream enhancements, peerdeficiency correction, as well as implementation of one or more low costrendering devices while maintaining a high quality sound field in thevicinity of the peers.

One or more peers may be configured to broadcast capabilities to themedia network (e.g. such as sub-woofer capability, tweeter capability,audio band capabilities, power capabilities, etc.). The media networkmay include a configuration service to automatically configure therendering devices within the media network. In one non-limiting examplethe media network may be configured to automatically adjust crossoversfor the available rendering devices on the network.

One or more of the peers may include a sensor (e.g. a microphone, etc.)to provide a sensory input signal. The sensory input signal may be usedin one or more sound field configuration algorithms supported by themedia network. In one non-limiting example one or more peers may beconfigured to generate associated sensory inputs signals (e.g. localsound fields, etc.). The sensory input fields may be provided to a soundfield assessment algorithm included in the media network to assess oneor more aspects of the sound field. In aspects, the sound fieldassessment algorithm may be configured to assess the bass modes in aroom or venue associated with the media network. The sound fieldassessment algorithm may be computed and/or executed via one or morepeers in the media network during operation.

The media network may include algorithms for providing feedback, noisecancellation, and/or local sound field resonance cancellation within anassociated media field. Such algorithms may be configured to adjust themedia stream before, during, and/or after delivery to the designatedrendering device(s) so as to compensate for the desired effects. In onenon-limiting example one or more rendering devices may adjust anincoming audio stream, perhaps based on the local audio levels, averagesound pressure level experienced at an associated observer, etc. so asto adjust the sound field locally to better match a desired playbackcondition (e.g. a more uniform sound pressure level, a controlled soundpressure level at a source, etc.). In one aspect the desiredcharacteristic may be determined by comparing the desired sound pressurelevels from the media stream, with those experienced by an observer inthe sound field (i.e. generation of a local deviation from the desiredplayback conditions).

The media network may include one or more virtual sound card services.The virtual sound card service may be configured to more easily manageresources (e.g. for calculating signal conditioning aspects, resamplingaspects, etc.), manage differing audio standards, sample rateallowances, etc. amongst peers on media network, and delivery of audiostreams to designated rendering devices on the media network. Inaspects, the media network may include one or more virtual sound cardservices, configured so as to inter-relate peers and rendering deviceswithin the network and so as to automatically adjust rendering devicesat any given time to improve the sound field quality for a user in thesound field. In aspects, the virtual sound card service may provide ahand off of a media stream, a rendering task, a signal conditioningaspect, or the like between a personal rendering device and a highquality fixed installation, between fixed installations, etc. dependentupon the movement of an associated peer and/or user throughout the spacecovered by the media network.

The network may include one or more ‘virtual’ participants, perhaps“inserted” into the shared sound field at a predetermined physicallocation. The virtual participants may feed media, local sound fielddata, into the media network, and may interact with the network from aremote location. In one non-limiting example, a virtual participant mayinteract with the media network via a WAN connection. The system mayprioritize synchronization within the local network with higher prioritythan that associated with WAN connected virtual participants. Otherenvironmental functions such as analysis of an associated venue (e.g.environmentally influenced media artifacts, echo analysis, reverbanalysis, listening point analysis, etc.), wave-field synthesis, and/or3D sound field generation and/or analysis may be performed at least inpart via one or more peers and/or virtual participants in the medianetwork. In one non-limiting example, a virtual participant may beinserted into the sound field (i.e. as part of a wave-field synthesisapplication, to give the illusion of localized sound production in asound field, to insert an orchestral member, etc.).

A virtual participant may be used to evaluate a wave-field synthesisalgorithm, to adjust such an algorithm, etc. In this non-limitingexample, the virtual participant may be inserted at a point within thespace and configured to generate one or more rendered media stream fordetection and/or monitoring by one or more peers in the network. Themonitoring feedback may be used as input to an associated sound fieldenhancement algorithm to adjust one or more aspects thereof (i.e. timingbetween renderers, rendering amplitudes, superposition of sound effects,etc.).

Media networks in accordance with the present disclosure may beapplicable to a wide range of applications and venues. Some non-limitingapplications and/or venues for implementation of such media networksinclude clubs, restaurants, home, office, parties, personal mediaspaces, conferences, hotels, resorts, sporting events, auditoriums,large venues, outdoor venues, sound field synthesis, movie theaters, andthe like.

In one non-limiting application, a media network in accordance with thepresent disclosure may be configured to operate within a club. The clubmay include one or more fixed installations, each fixed installationincluding one or more peers, optionally configured as rendering devicesto participate in the media network. The peers may include audio devices(loudspeakers, observers, etc.), visual devices (screens, lightdisplays, etc.), and/or sensors (proximity sensors, ambient lightsensors, sound pressure level sensors, etc.). The club may include oneor more mobile peers, a mobile peer being free to move throughout theclub (e.g. a wireless peer configured as an observer for use by awaitress, security personnel, entertainers, etc.). The media network mayaccept one or more potential peers as they enter the venue, requestparticipation, etc. promoting each potential peer into one or moregroups (e.g. promotion into a customer group, a listener, an employeegroup, etc.). The peers participating in the media network may beassigned to one or more groups within the media network. Groups may beconfigured based upon spatial relationships (e.g. locations, rooms,regions of a space, proximity to one or more peers, etc.), based uponrelationships with one or more peers in the network (e.g. waiting staff,security, management, entertainers, administrations, tech ops,customers, high profile customers, DJ, etc.).

The media network may include a group configured as part of a venue(e.g. a café, a shop, a shopping center, a restaurant, etc.). One ormore prospective peers may be added to the group based upon proximitythereto, signup by an associated user, etc. Within the group, mediastreams may be played via one or more fixed rendering devices (e.g.speakers within the venue), rendering devices associated with one ormore users, etc. One or more user devices may monitor the local soundfield generated by one or more of the devices in order to providespatial feedback for balancing the sound field, etc. One or more peersmay interact with the selection of the media streams. Such selection maybe coordinated through a form of virtual jukebox function, through amedia queuing system, through associated games, promotions, or the like.

In aspects, a prospective peer may be added to the network by bringingthe peer (e.g. a smartphone) into close proximity to a barcode, an IDmatrix, an NFC tag, etc. (i.e. perhaps located at one or more sitewithin the venue, tables, etc.). Peers may interact with the medianetwork via a queue system, etc. whereby a user may vote upon media inthe queue so as to vote up or down the associated media for playback,pay to play media, combinations thereof, and the like.

One or more potential peers may be added to the network by a range ofavenues, such addition may be initiated locally, such as when potentialpeers enter a venue, pass a registration center, etc. Potential peersmay be pre-designated remotely (i.e. so as to further simplify theaddition process when arriving at a venue, validate attendance, etc.)through actions such as scanning event tickets, entering promotioncodes, communicating with ID tags, etc.

One or more peers in the club may be designated as a rendering device,so as to render one or more media stream or aspects thereof duringoperation. In one non-limiting example, a loosely connected grouping ofpeers may support rendering of a unified media stream there between. Inthis example, the grouping of peers may belong to a media network inaccordance with the present disclosure, the peers being configuredappropriately as rendering and/or observing devices within the medianetwork. The collective peer base may simultaneously render anassociated media stream, thereby generating a much more substantialsound field than could be produced by any individual peer acting withoutthe support of the group. Such a configuration may be advantageous forgenerating a loud sound field (e.g. for a party, etc.) from a collectionof substantially undersized peers. The media network may include one ormore synchronization services so as to add local sound fieldenhancement, local delay correction, etc. so as to provide a highquality sound field during use.

In one non-limiting application, a media network in accordance with thepresent disclosure may be configured to operate within a home, office,or small venue setting. The media network may be configured so as toeasily and cost effectively establish and maintain one or more mediafields within the environment (one or more rooms within a home, office,theater, church, auditorium, etc.). The media network may includespatially designated groups (e.g. zones within the environment, rooms,entryways, etc.) so as to allow for spatially based networkreconfiguration during use, as peers and/or potential peers, movethroughout the venue, as high priority peers move throughout the venue,etc. The media network may include relationship based groups, optionallytied to associated spatially designed groups. In one non-limitingexample, a media network established within a household may include anumber of peers (e.g. 5) designated as belonging to a family membergroup. The media network may have a plurality of spatially designatedgroups (e.g. zones, living room, kitchen, den, bedrooms, bathrooms,etc.). Each peer may have one or more zones within the household whereintheir preferences may have higher priority versus other peers in thatzone (e.g. a peer designed as “owning” a zone such as a bedroom forexample). One or more peers may be designated as having priority basedon seniority (e.g. a parent member, an administrator, etc.), or may havea priority that changes throughout a day (e.g. a peer may be demotedafter a certain time of night for example), etc. The priorities may beconfigurable automatically and/or manually by one or more peers (e.g. aparent member, an administrator, etc.).

Priority within a zone may further be designed on a “first come firstserved” basis (e.g. such as in a bathroom or common room within thevenue). In one non-limiting example, a peer may enter a spatiallydesignated group (e.g. a washroom) and automatically take over priorityfor that zone. Upon transition, designated peers within the zone (suchas rendering devices) may automatically transition from a standby stateto streaming of the peer's designated media stream (e.g. video, audiostream, etc.).

In another non-limiting example a priority peer may move throughoutspatially designated groups within the media network. As the peer movesthroughout the groups, the media network may automatically reconfigurerendering devices, media streams playing on media devices, etc. toideally render the media field around the priority peer. In onenon-limiting example, a media network may include one or more spatiallydesignated groups (e.g. a living room and a kitchen). A priority peermay be listening to an audio stream within the kitchen, on kitchen basedrendering devices (e.g. loudspeakers enlisted to play the audio streamwithin the kitchen environment). As the priority peer moves from thekitchen to the living room, the media network localization services mayrecognize the intent of the priority peer and slowly transition theaudio stream from rendering devices within the kitchen to renderingdevices within the living room. Such a configuration may also beconfigured to work upon low priority peers as long as a new zone (e.g. aliving room, a kitchen, etc.) being entered by the peer is not in use(i.e. identified as vacant, etc.).

The transition may be performed so as to provide the priority user withan uninterrupted transition. Such a transition may be performed throughuse of the priority peer resources and/or hardware (e.g. perhaps enabledwith a microphone, etc.). In this sense, the priority peer may behavelike an observer within the space, providing the network with feedbackpertaining to the sound field experienced by the priority peer as it ismoved throughout the space. In one non-limiting example, the audiostream as rendered at the associated rendering devices (in the kitchenand/or in the living room) may be automatically adjusted so as tomaintain the sound field in the vicinity of the priority peer during thetransition (e.g. as monitored by sensors included in the priority peerdevice and algorithms/services operating on the media network).

In aspects, a finer resolution of the spatial relationship between thepeer and one or more rendering devices in the media network may be usedto alter the sound field perceived by the peer during use. In aspects, adirectionally designated media stream may be coordinated by one or morerendering devices in the vicinity of the peer. The rendering devices mayrender one or more portions of the stream (e.g. channels, frequencyaspects, color aspects, virtual sound sources, instruments, etc.) so asto maintain the rendered stream at the desired level. Such aconfiguration may be advantageous for generating a controlled 3D soundfield around a peer, perhaps even as a peer moves throughout the soundfield.

The media network may be configured to monitor quality of service of themedia delivery to one or more peers in the network. The media networkmay automatically adjust the rendering of a stream by one or morerendering devices in order to adjust poor quality of service concernsand/or to maintain the quality of service above an acceptable level. Themedia network may monitor for corruption of a media stream by othertraffic on the network (e.g. another media stream, local disturbances,HVAC noises, poor rendering by a rendering device, environmental noises,wind, etc.) at one or more peers within the network. The media networkmay be configured to compensate for such corruption so as to improve therendered media stream experienced at the monitoring peer. In onenon-limiting example the bit-rate of a stream could be gradually reducedin order to maintain maximum allowed latency while simultaneouslymaintaining synchronization to within an acceptable quality level.

In one non-limiting example, a plurality of media streams (e.g. audiostreams) may be designated for listening by a plurality of distinctpeers (e.g. peers associated with users) on a media network inaccordance with the present disclosure. A first peer may have designatedthat the media network deliver a first rendered stream (e.g. a firstaudio stream) thereto and a second peer may have designated that themedia network deliver a second rendered stream (e.g. a second audiostream) thereto. The first and second rendered streams may be renderedby one or more rendering devices within the media network. The firstpeer may include a sensor (e.g. a microphone) to sample the local soundfield as part of a quality of service algorithm included in the medianetwork. If an aspect of the second stream is detected by the first peer(i.e. an interference), the media network may automatically adjustrendering from one or more of the rendering devices so as to reduce theinterference (e.g. via changes in the rendering signals, renderinglevels, via active noise cancellation, etc.).

In aspects, ae first rendered stream may be adjusted as a first peermoves throughout the venue. As the first peer moves into proximity witha second peer, a volume associated with the first rendered media streammay decrease gradually until the stream disappears. As the first peerleaves the proximity of the second peer, the first rendered media streammay be slowly re-established.

In aspects, perhaps applicable to a hospital and/or restaurant setting,as a peer in a first group (e.g. a peer in a doctor group, in a waitingstaff group, etc.) moves into a spatially oriented group (e.g. ahospital room, a dinner table, etc.), the local media field previouslyestablished in the spatially oriented group may dim, pause, etc. suchthat interaction between the peer in the first group may interact withone or more peers in the spatially oriented group (e.g. patients,customers, etc.).

In aspects, perhaps pertaining to a restaurant and/or hospital setting,one or more peers designated as group members of a spatially orientedgroup (e.g. a dinner table, a hospital room, etc.) may be configured tocontrol the local media field (e.g. audio, visual, settings, etc.),and/or environmental settings (e.g. lighting, local temperature,humidity, etc.) within the spatially oriented group. Such control may beprovided via a simplified application, for example on a smartphone, atablet computer, etc. Peers (members) in a higher priority group (e.g.waiting staff group, nursing group, doctor group, etc.) may be able tooverride the settings previously controlled by the group members.Messaging, direct communication, etc. between group members to higherpriority group members may be designated for remote communication withinthe media network.

FIG. 1 shows a media network 100 in accordance with present disclosure.The media network 100 includes a general peer 110, one or more renderingdevices 114 a-b, an observer 116 interconnected 115 a-f with one anotherwithin the network 100. FIG. 1 also shows a prospective peer 112 as itcommunicates with the media network 100, perhaps as part of a sign inroutine, etc. Although specific numbers of peers 110, observers 116,rendering devices 114 a-b, and prospective peers 112 are shown in FIG.1, such entities may be present or not present in various quantities inan implementation of the media network 100. The media network 100 mayalso include a power and/or network hub 118. Such a hub 118 or anyequipped peer (e.g. perhaps the general peer 110, rendering device 114a-b, observer 116, etc.) may be configured to communicate with anexternal participant (not explicitly shown). The general peer 110 and/orthe rendering devices 114 a-b may be configured to render and/or observea media stream delivered throughout the media network 110 duringoperation. The media stream may originate from one or more peers 110,rendering devices 114 a-b, observers 116, etc. on the network, orequivalently from an external participant (i.e. entering the network viaone or more peers), and be delivered to one or more designated peers110, rendering devices 114 a-b for playback. As shown in FIG. 1, one ormore of the rendering devices 114 a-b, and/or peers 110 may render mediaassociated with the media stream (e.g. audio, video, lighting, etc.).The prospective peer 112 may establish one or more interconnections 115a-b with one or more peers 110, 114 a-b, etc. in the network 110. Theprospective peer 112 may render a communication signal 111 a as part ofa configuration algorithm, network connection process, etc. One or morepeers 110, 114 a-b, 116, may generate communication signals 111 b-d tocommunicate with the prospective peer 112, configure the media network,as watermarking aspects of the media stream, etc. The observer 116 maymonitor the local media field 113 so as to provide a feedback signal foruse within the media network 100 (e.g. for use by one or more serviceson the media network, etc.).

The media network 100 may include one or more services in accordancewith the present disclosure. Some non-limiting examples of servicesinclude synchronization services, media delivery services, sound fieldgeneration services, sound enhancement services, resource managementservices, data delivery services, virtual sound card services, qualityservices, configuration services, spatialization/localization services,watermarking services, environmental control services, combinationsthereof, and the like each in accordance with the present disclosure.The media network 100 may include one or more support services includingidentification functionality services, network data flow controls,resource management services, resolution reservation services, qualityof service monitoring, etc. as known to one skilled in the art.

One or more of the peers 110, rendering devices 114 a-b, observers 116may be a fixed device, such as part of a home theater system, atelevision set, a large appliance, etc. Additionally, alternatively, orin combination, one or more of the peers 110, rendering devices 114 a-b,observers 116, may be a mobile device, such a smartphone, a tabletcomputer, a remote control, a wireless media center, a mobile speakersystem, etc.

The interconnections 115 a-f may be wireless, wired, etc. Theinterconnections may change and adapt based on the configuration of thenetwork and/or peers 110, 114 a-b, 116 on the network. Theinterconnections 115 a-f may conform to the overall network 100 topology(i.e. particular to the particular implementation thereof).

The media stream may originate from within the media network 100 or froman external participant (i.e. entering the network 100 through one ormore of the peers). The network 100 may support simultaneous renderingof a plurality of streams, with particular rendering devices 114 a-band/or peers 110 designated for each or a combination of the streams.

The network 100 may establish one or more local media fields 113 (shownin this case as an audio field, but equivalently could be any media).Rendering of the media fields 113 may be competitive based on changingpriorities on the network, proximity of one or more peers 110, 114 a-bon the network, etc.

The power and/or network hub 118 may be configured to interconnect themedia network 100 with one or more additional networks (e.g. a WAN,smart energy network, Actiline power, and signal distribution network,home appliance network, etc.). Such interconnection may be provided suchthat the media network and/or one or more peers thereupon may controlone or more associated appliances, environmental parameters, etc. duringoperation.

FIG. 2 shows aspects of a media network 200 in accordance with thepresent disclosure including a group 218. The group 218 may bedesignated to assign priorities, relationships (e.g. such proximity,social similarities, etc.) between peers that are members of the group218. The group 218 includes a general peer 210, two rendering devices214 a-b (i.e. peers that have been configured specifically as renderingdevices), an observer 216, and a power/network hub 222. The members ofthe group 218 are interconnected 217 a-e so as to communicate data,media, etc. between each other during operation of the media network200. The members of the group 218 may also render a media stream 211 a-cand/or listen to a rendered media field 213 during operation of themedia network 200. FIG. 2 also shows a prospective peer 212 in theprocess of establishing communication with the media network 200 (e.g.via one or more members of the group 218). The prospective peer 212, orthe media network 200 may establish a temporary connection 219 therebetween in order to communicate during an initiation process, queryand/or automated introduction process between the prospective peer 212and the media network 200. The temporary connection 219 may be initiatedbased on a spatial relationship between the prospective peer 212 and thenetwork 200 perhaps due to movement 221 of the prospective peer 212 intothe spatial zone of the group 218. The temporary connection 219 may alsobe established due to a query, an acceptance, a scan, a user request,etc.

In aspects, the credentials for access of a prospective peer into themedia network, a group within the media network, or the like may beestablished via communication of a watermark in the sound-field, pulsedLED-lighting within a group/zone, via RFID communication, NFCcommunication, social network membership identification (e.g. onFacebook, LinkedIn), combinations thereof, or the like.

The prospective peer 212, one or more peers 210, rendering devices 214a-b, may communicate along the rendering path 211 a-c, 215 (e.g. audio,visual media, light modulator, ultrasonic communication, etc.) so as toconfigure the network, establish communication, identify a member,establish proximity between one or more members, etc.

FIG. 3 shows aspects of a media network 300 in accordance with thepresent disclosure including multiple groups 318 a-b. The media network300 includes a first group 318 a and a second group 318 b. The firstgroup 318 a includes a rendering device 314 a, an observer 316 and atransitioning peer 312 interconnected 315 d-f for the purposes ofrendering media there amongst. The transitioning peer 312 may beconfigured to render one or more aspects of a media stream to form arendered media stream 311 d, the rendering device 314 a may beconfigured to render one or more aspects of the media stream to form asecond locally rendered media stream 311 c, and the observer 316 may beconfigured to monitor the local media field 313 at a site within themedia network 300 perhaps to generate a feedback signal, adjustrendering by the rendering device 314 a and/or the transitioning peer312, group members from the second group 318 b, etc.

The second group 318 b includes a rendering device 314 b, a peer 310 anda power/network hub 320 interconnected 315 b for distributing one ormore media streams, data, etc. there between. One or more members of thesecond group 318 b may be interconnected with the transitioning peer312. The peer 310 may be configured to render one or more aspects of asecond media stream to form a second rendered media stream 311 b and therendering device 314 b may be configured to render one or more aspectsof the second media stream to form another second locally rendered mediastream 311 a. The power and/or network hub 320 may be configured tointerconnect the media network 300 with one or more additional networks(e.g. a WAN, smart energy network, home appliance network, etc.).

The transitioning peer 312, one or more members of the first group 318a, and/or one or more members of the second group 318 b may beconfigured to establish interconnections 315 a, 315 c there between soas to guide the transition of the transitioning peer 312 from the firstgroup 318 a to the second group 318 b. The transition of thetransitioning peer 312 may occur due to movement 321 of thetransitioning peer 312 into a zone associated with the second group 318b, departure from a zone associated with the first group 318 a, due to auser selection, a change in priority settings for the transitioning peer312, or the like.

In aspects, one or more of the groups 318 a-b may have a zone withphysical dimensions as determined in a reference space 322. Thephysically embodied group 318 a-b may be a room, a zone, a region withina venue, etc. The media network 300 may include one or more localizationservices so as to determine where members of the network reside withinthe physical dimensions of a group 318 a-b or the media network 300 onthe whole. As a transitioning peer 312 passes from the first group 318 ato the second group 318 b (as determined by one or more of thelocalization services), an implied transition between the groups 318 a-bmay be initiated by the media network 300 or a member thereof.

FIG. 4 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure to generate a local sound field from a media stream. Thelocal sound field is represented as a contour plot with several contourlines 412 a-c representing the equipotential lines of the sound pressurelevels throughout the field at an instant in time. The media networkincludes a plurality of peers 410 a-b and an observer 414. The observer414 is shown moving throughout the sound field generated by one or moreof the peers 410 a-b. The observer 414 may be configured to monitor(e.g. via one or more sensors) the local sound field. One or moreaspects of the local sound field as monitored by the observer 414 may beused as feedback signal to the media network for a variety of purposesin accordance with the present disclosure.

In aspects, the feedback signal may be used by one or more networkservices to assist with localization of one or more peers in the medianetwork, to adjust one or more signals related to the media streamdelivered to the peers 410 a-b, adjust the signal processing algorithmson one or more of the peers 410 a-b, and/or to adjust one or more of therendering parameters on one or more of the peers 410 a-b.

The feedback signal may be generated from one or more aspects of thesound field such as from a local sound pressure level, phase variationbetween one or more feedback signals, echo correlations, reverb levelsat the location of the observer, averages, constructs and/or variationsthereof. The feedback signal may be adjusted by a psychoacousticalgorithm, one or more rendering properties of one or more of the peers,a venue (e.g. room, auditorium, etc.) acoustic effect, or the like toadjust for one or more properties of a listener located in the soundfield.

The observer may be equipped with a means for determining the directionof a sound wave, quirk or impulse in the rendered media stream local tothe observer. The direction of the sound wave may be used to helplocalize one or more peers in the process of rendering the media stream,etc. Some non-limiting examples of means for determining the directionof propagation of a sound wave arriving at the observer includesimultaneous monitoring of two or more microphones (i.e withsubstantially determined proximal relationships to each other, etc.),directional microphones, pre-determination through known localizationparameters, combinations of thereof, etc.

FIG. 5 shows another media network 500 in accordance with the presentdisclosure. The media network 500 is configured upon a local areanetwork (LAN) 524 and includes a plurality of members (e.g. peers). Asshown in FIG. 5, the members may be designated in various forms, so asto enable particular functions within the media network 500. In general,a member of the media network may be a peer 510. The peer 510 may beconfigured to perform one of many tasks within the media network 500.One or more peers 510 may be designated, elected and/or suggested for aparticular designation. The media network 500 may include peers thathave been designated to perform a particular function or collection offunctions within the media network 500. The media network 500 mayinclude one or more peers, each peer configured as a general peer 510,as a rendering device 512, an observer 514, a processing resource 516, amultifunctional peer 520, a localizing observer 518, a user 526 (e.g. ahuman, perhaps tied to a peer, perhaps alone, etc.), or the like. Themedia network 500 may include and/or communicate with one or morebroadcasters 522 (e.g. perhaps located remotely from the LAN 524).

The media network 500 may include one or more services in accordancewith the present disclosure, configured for execution throughout the LAN524, or optionally for execution on designated members within thenetwork 500. The LAN 524 may include one or more of the services. Asshown in FIG. 5, the LAN 524 includes a media distribution service, asynchronization service, and a resource management service, each inaccordance with the present disclosure. The LAN 524 may include otherservices such as localization services, media enhancement services,network configuration services, each in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

One or more peers 510 may include various parameters, services,capabilities, resource levels, operational settings, or the like for usein rendering a media stream, managing and/or influencing the medianetwork, etc. Some parameters may include a location (perhaps changingover time), an altitude, a zenith angle, a heading, a velocity,acceleration, one or more rendering parameters, an energy reserve, orthe like. Some capabilities may include sensory capability, user inputcapability, a display, rendering capability (e.g. one or moreloudspeakers, one or more displays, indicators, etc.), localizationcapabilities, computational capabilities, media analysis hardware, andthe like. One or more peers 510 may include a multitude of capabilities,thus potentially being able to be designated for performing a range oftasks within the network 500.

One or more peers may be configured as a rendering device 512 inaccordance with the present disclosure. The rendering device 512 may beconfigured to render input media streams, include a range of renderingproperties, a location (perhaps changing over time), one or more energyreservoirs, configuration parameters, computational resources, digitalmedia rendering processes, and the like. The rendering device 512 may bedesignated for receiving a portion of a media stream or a signal derivedfrom the media stream during operation. The media network 500, a user526, a broadcaster 522, or the like may designate the rendering device512 for playback of one or more aspects of the stream.

One or more peers may be configured as an observer 514 in accordancewith the present disclosure. The observer 514 may be configured tomonitor the media field generated by the media network 500 at a physicallocation within the network. An observer 514 may be in the presence ofand/or attached to a user 526. The observer 526 may include one or moresensors (i.e. for sampling from the local media field, etc.), processingresources, configuration parameters, field assessment criteria,assessment algorithms, a physical location, field correction algorithms,means for localizing the observer 514, one or more users 526, and/or oneor more members of the media network 500, or the like. The observer 514may be used to assess the quality of service of the media streamingaspects of the media network 500.

The media network 500 may include a media source (not explicitly shown).The media source may be a peer 510, a broadcaster 522, etc. The mediasource may come from an external participant (e.g. a streaming service,a cloud based storage system, etc.), may originate from within the medianetwork (e.g. generated by a peer 510, a broadcaster 522, etc.), enterthe media network via a WAN connection, a cellular network connection,etc.

One or more broadcasters 522 may be configured to generate a multicastmedia stream into the media network 500. The broadcaster 522 may beconfigured with a priority level, an authority level, etc. so as todirect the resulting media stream to one or more peers/observersthroughout the media network 500. The broadcaster 522 may communicatewith other members through messaging aspects (e.g. via notificationqueues, text messaging, text streams, etc.) in addition to medianetworks 500.

One or more of the localizing observers 518 may be configured todetermine one or more locations of one or more peers within the medianetwork 500. A localizing observer 518 may include a visualizationdevice (e.g. a camera, a photodetector, an audio localization scheme, athermal motion capture system, an ultrasonic range finder, a visual,near infrared, and/or infrared based range finder, etc.). The localizingobserver 518 may include available computational resources, a listing ofcapabilities, etc. that may be presented to the media network 500 foruse in a configuration service, etc.

One or more multi-functional peers 520 may be specifically designatedwithin the media network 500 to perform a plurality of tasks, such asrendering, observing, providing a user interface, etc. Multi-functionalpeers 520 may include aspects suitable for performing the intendedfunction (e.g. rendering, observing, etc.) in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows another media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure including a localizing observer 614. The media networkincludes a plurality of peers 610 a-c configured to render and/orobserver a media stream to produce local rendered streams 613 a-c. Themedia network may include an observer 612 configured to sample the localmedia field at least partially generated by one or more of the peers 610a-c. The media network includes a localized observer 614 configured todetermine one or more spatial relationships (e.g. a location, a movementrate, a reference angle between, a relationship between, etc.) relatingto one or more peers 610 a-c, the observer 612, perhaps features in thevicinity of the media field. The localizing observer 614 may include avisualization system (e.g. a camera, a stereoscopic camera, a 3D camera,a thermal imaging camera, a Kinect system, a motion sensing input, athermopile, an ultrasonic range finder, or a combination thereof, or thelike) optionally with a field of view 615. The localizing observer 614may be configured to monitor one or more members (e.g. peers 610 a-c,observers 612, etc.) during operation so as to determine the physicalrelationship between them. Such information may be made available to themedia network for processing (e.g. such as by a service on the network,for a computational process on a peer 610 a-c, etc.).

One or more visualization systems in accordance with the presentdisclosure may be included into or interact with an associated medianetwork. The visualization system may provide localization data to themedia network for use in tracking the location of one or more peers, oneor more human users, etc. The visualization system may provide visualreferences between the human users and the media rendering devices, soas to assist with adjusting the sound field accordingly (e.g. adjustingwhich rendering devices will play aspects of the media field, etc.).

The media network may include a plurality of input devices, each inputdevice configured to collect localization and/or media field relatedinformation from within the media network during operation. In thenon-limiting example shown in FIG. 6, the observer 612 and thelocalizing observer 614 may collect multiple input streams from thelocal environment, media field, etc. The network services and/orassociated sensor fusion algorithms may be used to implement such datato adjust the local media field, adjust one or more environmentalsettings, generate one or more alerts, etc. each in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

The media network may include a prioritization scheme in accordance withthe present disclosure. In aspects, the prioritization scheme mayprioritize the following, in decreasing order of priority: synchronizedstreams, non-synchronized streams, feedback from observers, localizationparameters, environmental/home automation control signals, genericcommunication of data packets (e.g. credentials, settings, etc.). Theprioritization of media streams may depend upon such factors as peer topeer proximity, media stream cross talk, the compression approachattached to the media stream, and the like. In aspects, a quality ofservice algorithm in accordance with the present disclosure may excludea peer from a list of priority rendering devices if the peer cannotadequately meet the performance requirements (e.g. sound quality,minimum latency requirements, etc.) associated with the network.

FIGS. 7a-b show aspects of methods for establishing connections to andrendering media on a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure. FIG. 7a shows a method for connecting and establishingnetwork communication between one or more peers on a media network inaccordance with the present disclosure. The method includes establishingconnections to one or more peers, optionally announcing one or morecapabilities of each newly connected peer to the media network,designating functions amongst one or more of the peers, starting and/ormodifying one or more services on the media network, configuringresource management amongst one or more of the peers, optionallycoordinating analysis functions amongst the peers, optionallyestablishing, modifying, and/or configuring traffic direction over themedia network, distributing a media stream over the media network,optionally observing a media field rendered by one or more members ofthe network, and optionally compensating and/or adjusting the mediastream, one or more functional aspect of one or more peers, and/or oneor more rendering parameter of one or more peers.

The method may include reconfiguring one or more rendering properties onone or more peers on the media network, perhaps to improve and/or adjustthe media field during playback of the media stream.

FIG. 7b shows a method for rendering a media stream on a media networkin accordance with the present disclosure. The method includesconnecting together one or more peers on a media network in accordancewith the present disclosure, designating one or more peers as renderingdevices for a media stream, rendering one or more aspects of the mediastream on one or more of the rendering devices to produce a renderedmedia field, optionally observing the rendered media field, andcompensating, adjusting, and/or reconfiguring one or more aspects of themedia network based upon the observation.

FIGS. 8a-b show aspects of a media network in accordance with thepresent disclosure configured for a meeting session (e.g. a conference,a networking event, a meet up, a lecture, a theater, etc.). FIG. 8ashows a room 802 and a group 804 included in a media network inaccordance with the present disclosure. The room 802 may be used as partof a meeting session or the like. The group 804 as shown is associatedwith room 802 and includes a plurality of members (e.g. peers,configured peers, etc.) positioned 824 throughout the group space (i.e.throughout the room 802). The group 804 includes one or more peers 810optionally configured as one or more observers (e.g. so as to observe amedia field within the group space), one or more input devices (e.g. soas to receive one or more user inputs into the media network), renderingdevices (e.g. an ear piece, a loudspeaker, a display, an indicator, etc.for rendering one or more aspects of a media stream within the group ordata associated there with), computational resources, etc. The group 804includes a source 816 (e.g. a speaker), one or more rendering devices(812 a-b) configured to render one or more media streams within thenetwork to produce local rendered media fields 813 a-b, each of whichcontributes to a resulting media field within the room.

The room 802 may include a rendering device 814 (e.g. a screen, aprojector, stereo projector, etc.). One or more of the peers 810 mayinclude a display, optionally for rendering the same media stream as therendering device 814. The group 804 may include a messaging and/or queuebased priority service (i.e. as part of the media network services) formanaging messages between peers and/or the source 816 during a meetingsession. The group 804 includes one or more queued peers 818 a-c,included in a priority based queue (e.g. so as to ask questions,participate in a discussion, etc.). One or more peers may includesoftware, a portal, etc. by which a queue may be established during ameeting session.

The group 804 may include a coordinator 820, optionally anadministrator, a high priority peer, etc. The coordinator 820 may beprogrammed to configure the network, manage queue requests, designaterendering devices, monitor the quality of service on the media network,etc. so as to control the flow of the meeting session.

The group 804 may accept one or more prospective peers 822 in accordancewith the present disclosure. The prospective peer 822 may join the group804 based upon movement 823 of the prospective peer 822 into the room802, swiping of an NFC chip by the prospective peer 822, execution of anagreement, access to a website, etc.

FIG. 8b shows a prioritized queue for use by a media network inaccordance with the present disclosure during a meeting session. In thenon-limiting example, shown, the source 816 (speaker) has priority andmay generate a media stream for the group 804, the queue also includes(in order) a first queued peer 818 a, a second queued peer 818 b, acoordinator 820, and a third queued peer 818 c. The queue may designatea speaking order for the queued members, an order of speakers at theconference, etc.

FIGS. 9a-d show methods for managing a media network in accordance withthe present disclosure. FIG. 9a shows a method for managing prioritieson the media network. The method includes designating and/or configuringone or more sources within the media network (i.e. sources of mediastreams), designating and/or configuring one or more rendering deviceswithin the media network (i.e. devices for rendering one or more mediastreams), distributing media within the network, analyzing one or moreaspects of the rendered media field (i.e. the media field as generatedby one or more of the rendering devices), assessing criteria relating tothe quality of service (i.e. thresholds for acceptable sound quality,media reproduction quality, sound pressure level, phase variations,delay, synchronization, reverberation, noise levels, etc.), andoptionally altering one or more network priorities based upon thecriteria. The step of altering may be used to designate and/orreconfigure one or more sources, rendering devices and/or general peerson the network, etc.

FIG. 9b shows aspects of a method for enlisting a prospective peer intoa media network, a group, and/or sub-group included in the media networkin accordance with the present disclosure. The method includes invitingand/or initiating the enlistment process, connecting between theprospective peer and the media network and/or one or more peers withinthe network, designating an identification number for the prospectivepeer on the network, announcing the capabilities of the prospective peerto the media network, assigning the prospective peer to one or moregroups (e.g. space based groups, social groups, etc.), assigning a roleand/or function for the prospective peer in the media network, andstarting participation of the prospective peer in the media network(e.g. promoting the prospective peer to peer).

FIG. 9c shows a method for forming a media network in accordance withthe present disclosure. The method includes initiating the medianetwork, designating a network administrator (e.g. automatically,semi-automatically, manually, with user input, etc.), enlisting one ormore peers to participate in the media network, announcing thecapabilities of one or more peers, allocating and/or configuringresources for the media network, assigning groups, roles, and/orpriorities to one or more enlisted peers, starting one or more networkservices in accordance with the present disclosure and/or initiatingpeer participation on the network. The method may include the steps ofassigning one or more sub-administrators within a group, eachsub-administrator configured to manage a service, a configurationaspect, delivery of a media stream, etc.

FIG. 9d shows a more detailed view of the method of allocating and/orconfiguring resources for the media network. The method includesgenerating an initial configuration, analyzing and/or testing theconfiguration, calculating one or more performance metrics and/ormargins, deciding if the configuration is satisfactory to support theintended streaming of media over the network, if not, adjusting theconfiguration, if yes, continuing with the network formation process.

FIG. 10 shows aspects of a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure configured for use in a large venue setting. The medianetwork includes a plurality of peers 1010 amassed over a physicalregion. The peers 1010 may be configured as observers, renderingdevices, sources, combinations thereof, or the like, each in accordancewith the present disclosure. Collectively, the peers 1010 may generate asound field, in this case a wave field 1020 with a propagation direction1030, optionally configured so as to match a predetermined and/or apreferred configuration (e.g. determination of a 3D sound fieldtemporally over time, thus accounting for the desired propagationcharacteristics of the sound field over region including the peers 1010,accounting for one or more moving sources within the sound field, etc.).The peers 1010 may be automatically enlisted to render at least aportion of a media stream associated with the wave field 1020 thusforming enlisted peers 1040 (optionally, temporarily enlisted peers,etc.). In one non-limiting example, a stream associated with a soundfield may initially originate from a single peer in the network (i.e. anoriginating peer). As the sound field propagates from that originatingpeer, additional peers may be automatically enlisted to repeat thestream. Such a configuration may be used to enhance the far fieldreproduction of the stream amongst a collection of peers, over a largevenue, etc.

FIGS. 11a-b show wave field synthesis and/or correction with a medianetwork in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 11a shows anarray of peers 1110 equipped so as to render a sound field within anenvironment. The peers 1110 may operate collectively to generate thesound field, preferably mimicking a desired wave field 1120 to within apredetermined quality (e.g. to within a timing preference, a wavedirection preference, etc.). The desired wave field 1120 may have apreferred propagation direction 1130 (i.e. at any point thereupon). Thepeers 1110 may accept a portion of a media stream or a signal generatedtherefrom within the media network. Each peer 1110 may play one or moreaspects of the media stream or signal generated therefrom to form alocally rendered stream 1122 (i.e. a signal originating from at leastone peer 1110 in the media network). The media network may include oneor more peers configured as observers 1114 a-b. The observers 1114 a-bmay listen locally to the sound field so as to provide quality ofservice input, sound field feedback, optimize timing adjustment,parameter modification, feed a timing algorithm, etc. The ideal timingand/or sound field parameters (e.g. local sound pressure level, phase,equalized audio distribution, etc.) designated for each peer 1110 maydepend upon placement of the peers within the local sound field,rendering characteristics of the peers, network latency, etc. Due toerrors in the above parameters, collectively the generated wave fieldwill deviate from the desired wave field 1120. This can be seen in FIG.11a based on the poor match between individually rendered wave forms andthe desired wave field 1120. Such errors may be disadvantageous fordetermining the localization of a sound source with a plurality of peers1110, reduce the quality of audio determined by one or more of theobservers 1114 a-b, etc. The media network may include additional peers1112, perhaps located throughout the sound field. Additional peers 1112may be used to listen to the local sound field (i.e. so as to adjust theoverall wave field formed by the peers 1110), may be configured so as torender additional local rendered streams, etc.

FIG. 11b shows the media network as described in FIG. 11a including awave field adjustment algorithm. The wave field adjustment algorithm mayaccept one or more feedback signals from one or more observers 1114 a-b,one or more peers 1110, and/or one or more additional peers 1112. Thewave field adjustment algorithm may be configured to accept one or moreof the feedback signals and to adjust one or more of the timingparameters, rendering parameters, compensate for a room acousticparameter, etc. of one or more of the peers 1110 in order to correct thelocal wave field (i.e. so as to approach the desired wave field 1120).

Each peer 1110 may include a wireless beacon, an audio watermarkingalgorithm, etc. so as to further assist with the field adjustmentalgorithm.

In aspects, the wave field adjustment algorithm may monitor the feedbacksignals obtained by one or more network members (i.e. observers 1114a-b, peers 1110, additional peers 1112), over a period of time (a testperiod). The wave field adjustment algorithm may accept one or more datasets from an associated localization algorithm in accordance with thepresent disclosure over the same period of time. The wave fieldadjustment algorithm may extract individual timing errors associatedwith one or more of the peers 1110. Such timing errors may be adjustedfor in an associated quality of service, media streaming service, or thelike included in the media network. The wave field adjustment algorithmmay continue to listen to the feedback signals, perhaps in real-time orpseudo real-time so as to continually assess if the timing errors needfurther adjustment. Such ongoing assessment may be advantageous toadjust for changing timing errors (perhaps associated with changingnetwork configurations, changing resource load within the network, etc.)so as to maintain a high quality rendered sound field at the desiredobservers 1114 a-b within the media network.

FIGS. 12a-b show wave field synthesis and/or correction with a medianetwork in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 12a shows anarray of peers 1210 equipped so as to render a sound field within anenvironment. The peers 1210 may be physically positioned throughout thespace, optionally with positioning error (i.e. perhaps due to improperand/or ad hoc placement, etc.) of the peers 1210 within the space. Thepeers 1210 may operate collectively to generate the sound field,preferably mimicking a desired wave field 1220 to within a predeterminedquality (e.g. to within a timing preference, a wave directionpreference, etc.). The desired wave field 1220 may have a preferredpropagation direction 1230 (i.e. at any point thereupon). The peers 1210may accept a portion of a media stream or a signal generated therefromwithin the media network. Each peer 1210 may play one or more aspects ofthe media stream or signal generated therefrom to form a locallyrendered stream 1222 (i.e. a signal originating from at least one peer1210 in the media network). The media network may include one or morepeers configured as observers 1214 a-b. The observers 1214 a-b maylisten locally to the sound field so as to provide quality of serviceinput, sound field feedback, optimize timing adjustment, parametermodification, feed a timing algorithm, etc. The ideal timing and/orsound field parameters (e.g. local sound pressure level, phase,equalized audio distribution, etc.) designated for each peer 1210 maydepend upon placement of the peers within the local sound field,positional errors with respect to a desired configuration, renderingcharacteristics of the peers, network latency, etc. Due to errors in theabove parameters, collectively the generated wave field will deviatefrom the desired wave field 1220. This can be seen in FIG. 12a based onthe poor match between individually rendered wave forms and the desiredwave field 1220. Such errors may be disadvantageous for determining thelocalization of a sound source with a plurality of peers 1210, reducethe quality of audio determined by one or more of the observers 1214a-b, etc. The media network may include additional peers 1212, perhapslocated throughout the sound field. Additional peers 1212 may be used tolisten to the local sound field (i.e. so as to adjust the overall wavefield formed by the peers 1210), may be configured so as to renderadditional local rendered streams, etc.

FIG. 12b shows the media network as described in FIG. 12a including awave field adjustment algorithm in accordance with the presentdisclosure. The wave field adjustment algorithm may accept one or morefeedback signals from one or more observers 1214 a-b, one or more peers1210, and/or one or more additional peers 1212. The wave fieldadjustment algorithm may be configured to accept one or more of thefeedback signals and to adjust one or more of the timing parameters,rendering parameters, etc. of one or more of the peers 1210 in order tocorrect the local wave field (i.e. so as to approach the desired wavefield 1220).

The wave field adjustment algorithm may include one or more functionsfor calculating a “best fit” given the real-time configuration andobservations of the resulting media field by one or more of the peers inthe media network. The analysis may be achieved by a distributedalgorithm applied throughout the media network. Localization informationderived from one or more localization aspects of the media network maybe used to simplify the wave field adjustment algorithm.

In aspects, a distribution of peers within and at least partiallygenerating a media field may be configured so as to produce a phonogramat one or more sites within the media field (i.e. at one or more targetlocations). Such information may be used to give the illusion ofdistributed sound sources for a user situation at the target locationwithin the space.

In aspects, a multi-source orchestra, for example, may be simulated fora target space, specific sound sources may appear for the listener asemulating from particular locations within the surrounding media field.Such a configuration may be established amongst a collection ofrendering devices, perhaps even moving through the media field (e.g.from a collection of mobile peers, etc.). Audio dither effects may beadded to one or more rendered streams so as to more finely define thespatial aspects of the illusion. Such a configuration may include anassociated file format, perhaps including multiple sound streams eachassociated with one or more sound sources, and a map for distribution ofthe sound sources around a target space.

Each peer 1210 may include a wireless beacon, an audio watermarkingalgorithm, etc. so as to further assist with the physical peerlocalization and/or the field adjustment algorithm.

In one non-limiting example, the media network may establish a testmedia stream intended for configuring the timing parameters, mediastreaming services, etc. associated with the media network. The testmedia stream may include a series of chirps, sweeps, range tests, audiopassages, etc. suitable for determining one or more aspects of one ormore peers 1210 in the media network. The resulting information can beused by a field adjustment algorithm and/or network configurationservice in order to configure and/or determine the layout and/orproperties of constituents in the network for substantially optimizedplayback therefrom.

In one non-limiting example, the test media stream may be directedtowards a plurality of peers physically located within the medianetwork. Series of pulses may be added to the rendered streams from oneor more rendering devices in the media network and monitored by one ormore observers nearby. The timing delays associated with the generationof the pulses may be used to triangulate one or more of the renderingdevices with respect to the observers. Such a configuration may beadvantageous for configuring a high fidelity sound system without theneed for advanced audio hardware (may be configured via intuitive use ofsmartphone or tablet based peers).

A media network in accordance with the present disclosure may beconfigured so as to synthesize a wave-field within the space defined bythe media network. The wave-field may be generated by one or moremethods: elementary wave assembly (e.g. via Huygen's principle), viacalculation of associated Kirchhoff-Helmholtz integrals, model basedapproaches, data based approaches (test signal based approaches),reduced aliasing methods know in the art. Such methods may be extendedto include venue related factors (such as based on room geometry, wallreflection factors, etc.). The method may include correction of peerpositioning within the resulting sound field via one or more associatedspatialization/localization algorithms in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

The media network may be configured so as to capture a sound fieldwithin a venue (i.e. from a live event, within a particular location,etc.) for later reconstruction and redistribution. In one non-limitingexample, a plurality of peers (e.g. smartphones, microphones, etc.),each spatially located within the venue may capture an associated mediastream during the live event. The resulting sound field may be recreatedthrough amalgamation of the collective recordings from the peers. Inaspects, the resulting sound field may be recoded for playback on apersonal rendering device (e.g. a headset), such that a user mayexperience the event from the perspective of one or more peers that wereactually there. Such an implementation may be extended to recreateenvironmental effects associated with the venue, so as to simulateplayback of a general media stream in the context of that venue.

FIG. 13 shows aspects of a media network 1300 in accordance with thepresent disclosure configured for use in a multi-room setting 1302 (e.g.a hotel, a home, an apartment complex, an office building, etc.). Themedia network 1300 supports a plurality of spatial groups 1310 a-f Eachspatial group 1310 a-f may be associated with a region (e.g. rooms,auditoriums, hallways, etc.) within the multi-room setting 1302. Themedia network 1300 may optionally include one or more coordinating peers1311 a-f configured so as to govern one or more aspects of an associatedspatial group 1310 a-f such as the boundary of the spatial group 1310a-f, the associations of the spatial group 1310 a-f, provide a wide areanetwork portal, etc. The media network 1300 may include one or moreadministrating peers 1326 with sufficient priority level so as tocoordinate the media network 1300, assign priority levels and associatepeers with groups (spatial groups 1310 a-f and/or social groups) withinthe network 1300.

In one non-limiting example one or more spatial groups 1310 a-f withinthe network may be configured by an assigned peer upon first contactwith that peer (i.e. as the assigned peer first enters the spatial group1310 a-f, upon assignment of preferences between the peer and thespatial group 1310 a-f, through completion of an agreement, etc.). Themedia network 1300 may be configured to accept one or more peers 1314,1318, 1324, 1327, 1328 configured so as to communicate with the medianetwork 1300. In aspects, the peers 1314, 1318, 1324, 1327 may beconfigured to communicate with one or more groups 1310 a-f.

In aspects, a prospective peer 1328 may communicate 1329 with anadministrating peer 1326, perhaps as part of an agreement (i.e. checkinginto a hotel, signing up for an event, etc.). The administrating peer1326 may associate 1331 a group 1310 d with the unique ID of theprospective peer 1328, thus allowing for convenient acceptance of theprospective peer 1328 into the elected group 1310 d. Such a proceduremay advantageously simplify the process of securely allowing peers tojoin groups within the media network 1300.

A group 1310 a may include one or more peers configured as renderingdevices 1312. One or more priority peers 1327 may coordinate (i.e.perhaps via a user interface, etc.), provide (i.e. via access to a medialibrary), and/or direct (i.e. via a streaming application, web service,etc.) one or more media streams for rendering by designated memberswithin the group 1310 a. The rendering devices 1312 may be configured torender one or more of the media streams. The media network and/or one ormore of the rendering devices 1312 may include a payment system toacknowledge and/or pay for each media stream rendered by the renderingdevice 1312. Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, the medianetwork may include one or more peers configured so as to monitor therendered stream, thus providing feedback as to the approximate number ofusers that listened to the stream. Such a configuration may beadvantageous for calculating royalty revenues, etc. associated withpublic broadcasting of the media stream.

In aspects, a peer 1314 may approach an associated spatial group 1310 b.Upon cross over into the spatial group 1310 b, the media network mayautomatically coordinate assignment of the peer 1314 to the group,interface with the peer 1314, perhaps via one or more associated peers(not explicitly shown) within the group 1310 b, etc.

In aspects, a peer 1318 may be configured so as to interface with a user1320 so as to direct 1321 one or more media streams to one or morerendering devices 1316 within a spatial group 1310 c in the medianetwork 1300. The rendering devices 1316 may render the associatedstream to form a rendered media stream 1319 and thus establish a mediafield within the spatial group 1310 c. The peer 1318 may include anobserver functionality in accordance with the present disclosure,configured so as to monitor the local media field within the spatialgroup 1310 c and perhaps adjust the media field and/or direct the medianetwork to adjust the field in accordance with the present disclosure.

In aspects, a peer 1324 may be configured so as to communicate with oneor more spatial groups 1310 e within the venue 1302. The peer 1324 maycommunicate with a local peer 1322 so as to establish a localization ofthe peer 1324 within the venue 1302, to communicate between the peer1324 and another remote peer within the venue 1302, etc. One or morespatial groups 1310 e may be accessible by one or more peers within themedia network 1300 (i.e. such as in hallways, auditoriums, etc.). Suchaccessible spatial groups 1310 e may include one or more renderingdevices 1322 configured so as to communicate rendered streams 1323perhaps pertaining to a warning, an alert, an ambient media stream, arecommendation (e.g. an advertisement, a concierge direction, etc.), acombination thereof, or the like. In one usage scenario, such a medianetwork may be configured as an open network, thus allowing anyprospective peer to join and listen to one or more streams, but notnecessarily to interact at a higher level unless invited to do so (e.g.via a promotion, a payment, etc.).

In aspects, the media network may govern one or more aspects of thelocal media field within a spatial group 1310 a-f. Some non-limitingaspects may include the sound pressure level (i.e. so as to restrictexcessively loud sound fields within a shared social venue), restrictionof media streams (i.e. based on parental restrictions, etc.),superposition of alerts, warnings, etc. One or more of the aspects maybe at least partially governed by the time of day, activity of adjacentspatial groups, presence of the peers within a spatial group, etc.

In one non-limiting application related to a multi-room venue, aperspective peer 1328 or peer 1314 may interact with a keycard so as tojoin the media network and/or a group within the media network. Somenon-limiting examples of keycards include magnetically scanned cards,NFC keycards, ID matrix cards, or the like. Upon interaction between thekeycard and the peer (e.g. upon tap, swipe, photograph, etc.), perhapsin combination with an access parameter, online confirmation, etc., thepeer may become associated with the media network or a group therein.Thus a prospective peer or peer may become intimately connected with aroom or room amenities (speaker systems, media center, lighting, etc.),and media, environmental parameters, etc. may be streamed, configured,and/or adjusted automatically via the peer. The media network may begranted access to a peer related network or service (i.e. a socialnetwork, a media streaming service, etc.) so as to automatically acquireand implement peer related preferences, establish peer/grouprelationships, or the like.

FIG. 14 shows a non-limiting example of an audio enhancement system 1410included in a peer on a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure. The audio enhancement system 1410 is configured to acceptone or more input audio signals 1 from a source (e.g. a processor, anaudio streaming device, an audio feedback device, a wirelesstransceiver, an ADC, an audio decoder circuit, a DSP, a network peer,etc.), and provides one or more output signals 1450 to one or moretransducers 3, or transducer modules 5. The audio enhancement system1410 includes blocks (e.g. PCP block 1420, DD block 1440, ASRC block1460, etc.) which are collectively configured to transform the inputaudio signal 1 to produce the output signal 1450.

The audio enhancement system 1410 may be embedded in an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC) or be provided as a hardwaredescriptive language block (e.g. VHDL, Verilog, etc.) for integrationinto a system on chip integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), or a digital signal processor (DSP) integratedcircuit. One or more blocks (e.g. PCP block 1420, ASRC block 1460, etc.)may also be implemented in software on a consumer electronic deviceand/or on an associated network (e.g. a local network server, in thecloud, a media network in accordance with the present disclosure, etc.).The system 1410 may be an all-digital hardware implementation. Anall-digital implementation may be advantageous to reduce the hardwarefootprint, reduce power consumption, reduce production costs, andincrease the number of integrated circuit processes into which thesystem may be implemented. The implementation may be integrated into aconsumer electronic device in order to provide a complete audioenhancement solution.

As shown in FIG. 14, the audio enhancement system 1410 for inclusioninto a peer includes a parametrically configurable processing (PCP)block 1420, a digital driver (DD) block 1440, and an arbitrary samplerate conversion (ASRC) block 1460. The audio enhancement system 1410accepts one or more audio input signals 1 from an audio source. In theschematic shown, the ASRC block 1460 accepts the input signal 1 andproduces a converted signal 1470. The converted signal 1470 is providedto the PCP block 1420, which in turn transforms it into an enhancedsignal 1430. The PCP block 1420 may include one or more parameterspertaining to the acoustic signature of the associated peer,environmental factors, etc. The PCP block 1420 may include an algorithmconfigured to act upon the input signal 1 or the converted signal 1470to compensate for one or more aspects of the acoustic and/orenvironmental signature during operation. The enhanced signal 1430 isprovided to the DD block 1440, which produces and output signal 1450from the enhanced signal 1430. Placement of an ASRC block 1460 betweenthe input to the system 1410 and the PCP block 1420 may be advantageousfor use in memory constrained devices. In this case, an ASRC block 1460may allow for the use of a single set of parameters that areirrespective of the sampling rate of the input audio signal 1, for therest of the processing. An ASRC block 1460 placed at the input to theaudio enhancement system 1410 may also remove jitter from the inputaudio signal 1, which may be advantageous for enhancing the soundquality obtainable from some types of input sources.

By transducer 3, 9 is meant a component or device such as a loudspeakersuitable for producing sound. A transducer 3, 9 can be based on one ofmany different technologies such as electromagnetic, thermoacoustic,electrostatic, magnetostrictive, ribbon, audio arrays, electroactivematerials, and the like. Transducers 3, 9 based on differenttechnologies may require alternative driver characteristics, matching orfiltering circuits but such aspects are not meant to alter the scope ofthis disclosure.

By transducer module 5 is meant a subsystem including both a transducer9 and a circuit 7. The circuit 7 provides additional functionality (e.g.power amplification, energy conversion, filtering, energy storage, etc.)to enable a driver external to the transducer module 5 to drive thetransducer 9. Some non-limiting examples of the circuit 7 (e.g. apassive filter circuit, an amplifier, a de-multiplexer, a switch array,a serial communication circuit, a parallel communication circuit, a FIFOcommunication circuit, a charge accumulator circuit, etc.) arehighlighted throughout the disclosure.

By input audio signal 1 is meant one or more signals (e.g. a digitalsignal, one or more analog signals, a 5.1 surround sound signal, anaudio playback stream, etc.) provided by an external audio source (e.g.a processor, an audio streaming device, an audio feedback device, awireless transceiver, an ADC, an audio decoder circuit, a DSP, etc.).

By acoustic signature is meant the audible or measurable soundcharacteristics of a consumer electronic device dictated by its designthat influence the sound generated by the consumer electronic device.The acoustic signature is influenced by many factors including theloudspeaker design (speaker size, internal speaker elements, materialselection, placement, mounting, covers, etc.), device form factor,internal component placement, screen real-estate and material makeup,case material selection, hardware layout, and assembly considerationsamongst others. Cost reduction, form factor constraints, visual appealand many other competing factors are favored during the design processat the expense of the audio quality of the consumer electronic device.Thus the acoustic signature of the device may deviate significantly froman ideal response. In addition, manufacturing variations in the abovefactors may significantly influence the acoustic signature of eachdevice, causing further part to part variations that degrade the audioexperience for a user. Some non-limiting examples of factors that mayaffect the acoustic signature of a consumer electronic device include:insufficient speaker size, which may limit movement of air necessary tore-create low frequencies, insufficient space for the acoustic enclosurebehind the membrane which may lead to a higher natural roll-offfrequency in the low end of the audio spectrum, insufficient amplifierpower available, an indirect audio path between membrane and listenerdue to speaker placement often being on the back of a TV or under alaptop, relying on reflection to reach the listener, among othersfactors.

FIG. 15 shows an encoding scheme for implementation between one or morepeers inclusion in a media network in accordance with the presentdisclosure. The encoding scheme may be advantageous to providecomputationally efficient, low noise, and low switching frequency pulsewidth modulated playback, streaming and/or reproduction of a signalencoded (e.g. an audio signal, video signal, telemetry signal) at aremote location (i.e. via a peer, a source, etc.). As shown in the FIG.15, the signal conversion system may be physically split into twoportions, a remote portion and a playback portion. The remote portionaccepts an input signal 1505 from a source 1501 to a cross-pointselection (CPS) block 1520 in accordance with the present disclosure.The remote portion also includes a carrier generator 1510 in accordancewith the present disclosure. The carrier generator 1510 creates acarrier signal 1515 that is also fed to the CPS block 1520. The CPSblock 1520 is configured to analyze the input signal 1505 and thecarrier signal 1515 and generate a triggered signal 1525. The remoteportion also includes a noise shaper 1530 in accordance with the presentdisclosure. The noise shaper 1530 is configured to accept the triggeredsignal 1525 and perform truncation and noise shaping thereupon toproduce a truncated signal 1535 a. The truncated signal 1535 a may beupdated at a rate corresponding to the frequency of the carrier signal1515 (e.g. once per carrier cycle, twice per carrier cycle, etc.) andmay be sufficiently noise shaped and truncated so as to be easilyreplayed without expensive hardware requirements.

The CPS block 210 may include input and/or output registers to storesamples of the resampled signal 150 and triggered signal 215respectively. The CPS block 210 may include a CPS comparator, configuredto compare the resampled signal 150 with the carrier signal 225. In onenon-limiting example, the CPS comparator may be configured to update thetriggered signal 215 when the carrier signal 225 transitions from beingless than to being greater than the resampled signal 150. In anothernon-limiting example, the CPS block 210 may include a hysteresisfunction to limit potential noise induced switching of the triggeredsignal 215 when the carrier signal 225 and the resampled signal 150 aresimilar in magnitude. Such comparative function may be provided by aswitching comparison algorithm, a hardware comparator element, etc. TheCPS block 210 may be configured to update the triggered signal 215 insync with the carrier signal 225 (e.g. when the carrier signal is at amaximum, a minimum, etc.).

The CPS block 1520 may include a noise shaping function (e.g. a noiseshaper), configured to insert and/or reshape a random and/or pseudorandom noise in the switching comparison algorithm. Such random and/orpseudo random noise may be advantageous for reducing timing relatednoise on the resampled signal (i.e. thus potentially reducing theoverall IMD and/or THD for the signal processing system). In onenon-limiting example the noise shaping function may be an n^(th) orderΔ-Σ noise shaper. Each feedback loop in the noise shaper may include aconfigurable parameter to better help shape the overall noise. In oneparticular non-limiting example, a 9^(th) order noise shaper is used incombination with an absolute threshold of hearing model in order toshape the noise over the audible hearing range. Such a configuration maybe advantageous to substantially minimize the audible noise in thesystem as would be heard by a human user. The noise shaper may besampled at a frequency higher than the frequency of the carrier signal(e.g. at the clock frequency, at a multiple of the carrier signalfrequency, etc.). Such high frequency sampling may be advantageous forshifting the noise to higher, inaudible frequency bands with the noiseshaper during operation.

The truncated signal 1535 a may be wirelessly transmitted via one ormore transmitters 1561, 1562 (e.g. WiFi®, Bluetooth®, etc.), stored to aphysical medium 1571 (e.g. a CD, DVD, Blue Ray®, flash memory, cloudstorage, etc.) for playback on a corresponding playback device 1572,transferred via a first consumer electronics device 1581 forplayback/streaming on a second consumer electronics device 1582,delivered via a wired transmission 1191, and/or transmitted over aninternet/cloud 1593 based network to a corresponding playback portion.The playback portion includes a matching pulse-width modulation (PWM)bock 1550 in accordance with the present disclosure. The PWM block 1550includes a matching carrier generator that generates a carrier signalthat corresponds to the same carrier signal used during production ofthe truncated signal 1535 a. The matching PWM block 1550 may beconfigured to accept an incoming truncation signal 1535 b (e.g. atruncation signal 1535 a but perhaps provided in a physically differentform), and generate the corresponding PWM signal 1555 for delivery to atransducer, filter network, circuit and/or driver in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

This configuration may be advantageous for providing playback and/orstreaming of a high quality signal with reduced driver related switchinglosses and without expensive hardware in the playback portion (e.g.located on the playback device).

In aspects, the signal 1505 may be uniquely enhanced for playback on thecorresponding user/peer device (1582, 1572, playback portion, etc.). Inthis configuration, the signal processing related to the enhancedplayback may be implemented prior to providing the signal 1505 to theCPS block 1520 in the remote portion. Such a configuration may beadvantageous for simplifying and or improving a customer experience withan audio streaming process (e.g. a cloud based audio streaming service).In aspects, a user profile stored with an audio streaming service mayinclude one or more audio processing parameters corresponding to theplayback portion (e.g. corresponding to the device upon which playbackis expected), suitable for optimizing audio output on the intendedplayback device. Thus an audio stream 1505 from an audio streamingservice may be remotely processed in the remote portion before sendingthe resulting truncated signal 1535 a to the matching PWM block 1550 onthe consumer electronic device for playback.

One or more peers with higher priority levels, (e.g. hotel personnel,security, etc.) may broadcast alerts, etc. throughout one or more audiospaces (i.e. rooms, hallways, auditoriums, etc.). The media network mayfurther provide control, quality assessment, etc. of media on demandservices, streaming functions through the rendering devices (e.g.loudspeakers, media systems, etc.) within one or more groups within themedia network (e.g. within hotel rooms, hallways, etc.).

A media network in accordance with the present disclosure may includeone or more localization algorithms. The media network may include oneor more peers, optionally configured to perform one or more functionthereupon, some functions including observers, rendering devices,processing devices, hubs, etc. The localization algorithm may beconfigured to gather media field information from one or more observersincluded within the media network. The localization algorithm may beconfigured to accept one or more aspects of the gathered media fieldinformation and extract time delays, audio watermarks, WiFi signals,local RF signal strength, and/or field aspects pertaining to one or moreassociated rendering devices. At least a portion of a map, positionalcoordinates, physical relationship between two or more peers, may beoutput from the localization algorithm. In aspects, the localizationalgorithm includes a triangulation algorithm that accepts one or morewireless signals from one or more peers in the media network andgenerates one or more physical relationships between the associatedpeers.

In aspects, the localization algorithm includes an audio watermarkextraction function, configured to separate one or more locally renderedstreams generated by one or more rendering devices in the media networkfrom one or more observations of the media field, perhaps established ata plurality of physical locations within the media field. The audiowatermark extraction function may be configured to identify a uniqueaudio watermark associated with one or more rendering devices within thenetwork.

In aspects, an associated audio watermark may be serially applied to aplurality of rendering devices within the network during playback of amedia stream. The audio watermark extraction function may listen for theaudio watermark in addition to taking input of the stream directly fromthe media network. Thus each instance of the audio watermark may beuniquely tied to a known rendering device within the media network.Analysis of each audio watermark and/or the stream carried along withthe audio watermark may be used by the localization algorithm todetermine one or more physical/locational aspects of the associatedrendering device with respect to one or more of the observers where therendered stream was monitored.

The audio watermark may include a unique address associated with one ormore of the rendering devices (e.g. a MAC-address), a media keyassociated with access to the media stream (e.g. a DRM key), a spatiallyoriented group based ID (e.g. a room based ID, social group based accessID, etc.), or the like.

The media network, an observer, a peer, and/or a localizing observer mayinclude one or more devices configured to generate the spatial aspectsof network peers or of aspects of the network (for example, location ofa television, etc.). Some non-limiting examples of localization devicesinclude infrared, proximity sensors, magnetometers, light emitting diodebased network triangulation, wireless signal strength basedtriangulation, audio sampling based triangulation, audio watermarkingbased communication and device identification, GPS, wireless networkconfigurations, signal strength assessment, signal strengthtriangulation (NFC/RFID, local RF signal strength, BT, BLE, Zigbee,Z-wave, ANT, WiFi, proprietary topologies, etc.), a camera (e.g. adigital camera, a stereoscopic camera, a thermographic camera, a cameraarray, etc.), time of flight audio signaling, combinations thereof, orthe like.

In outdoor and limited indoor venues, GPS position may be used,potentially in combination with WiFi and/or RF triangulation todetermine the position of one or more peers within the network. Such aconfiguration may be advantageous for determining one or morelocalization aspect for one or more peers in the network in largevenues, outdoor venues or the like.

Shorter range wireless network communications may be used to assistwith, or primarily perform localization functions on the network. In onenon-limiting example, such information may be provided by performingtriangulation analysis on one or more WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, RFID nodesin the network.

A localization algorithm may be implemented using multilateration (e.g.time difference of arrival approaches), trilateration (e.g. via time offlight calculations), triangulation (time of flight, determining angularrelationships between one or more peers), fuzzy locating, wireless,optical and/or acoustical localization methods. In one non-limitingexample, the localization algorithm may incorporate a wirelesslocalization algorithm (e.g. centralized localization, distributedlocalization, anchor/beacon-based localization, relaxation-baseddistributed localization, stitching algorithms, multidimensionalscaling, proximity based mapping, ad-hoc positioning algorithms,bounding box algorithms, gradient based algorithms, diffusion basedalgorithms, hybrid localization, interferometric ranging, collaborativemultilaterial localization, error propagation aware localization,cluster based localization, combinations thereof, and the like). Thelocalization algorithm may include received signal strength indicators,time of arrival indicators (e.g. as part of an acoustic basedlocalization algorithm), angle of arrival (e.g. with appropriatehardware provisions) to assist with the localization process.

The localization algorithm may further implement the combination ofreceived information using one or more computational methods such ashyperbolic trilateration, maximum likelihood estimation, etc. todetermine the location of one or more peers in 3D space, to generate apeer map, etc. The algorithm may include steps of generating an initialestimate of location and refining the location map (e.g. via subsequentmeasurements, combination of techniques, etc.).

In one non-limiting example the media network may rely upon thesynchronization service in order to implement an improvedinterferometric ranging based localization algorithm. In this example,the synchronization service provides nanoscale time synchronization soas to improve the localization aspects of the algorithm.

In one non-limiting example related to an acoustic localization approach(e.g. via a test signal, or watermark based approach), the localizationalgorithm may include steps of rendering one or more acoustic signals(e.g. impulses, sweeps, chirps, etc.) with one or more peers (optionallysequentially) into the sound field, monitoring for time of flightbetween the one or more peers and one or more observers (e.g. peersconfigured as observers) in the sound field, recording the time offlight data for use in the trilateration, maximum likelihood, and/ortriangulation aspects of the algorithm, and construction of the locationof one or more of the peers/observers in the sound field.

The media network may include one or more pulsed LED lighting nodes, oran observer configured to monitor information from one or more LEDlighting nodes. In one non-limiting example, an LED lighting node may beused to broadcast group data into a spatially configured group (e.g. aroom), may participate as a peer or an interfacing element for a peer(e.g. an interfacing element to a wired server based peer), maybroadcast group configuration data, may broadcast a group ID, etc.

In aspects, an LED lighting node in accordance with the presentdisclosure may be configured to perform a beacon function, the beaconfunction may pertain to a series of local room IDs, etc. whereby anobserver positioned within the room may accept a light based messagefrom the LED lighting node, so as to localize the peer, interface withthe group (e.g. a group associated with the room), etc. The LED lightingnode may render a light modulated data signal into the local vicinitythereof, such modulated light may be identified by an associated peerfor purposes of streaming, localization, communication or the like. Sucha peer may include a photosensor to detect such light modulation. Suchcapability may be provided as included in a camera system, a smartphone,an infrared communication module, or the like. The power level of therendered light may be used to help localize the peer within the groupspace, perhaps via a triangulation algorithm in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

In aspects, short range communications (e.g. wireless triangulation, LEDsensor arrays, etc.) may be configured so as to establish the identityand/or credentials for one or more groups in the media network. Thus,such short range communications may be configured so as to automaticallycoordinate peer hand over between groups, security management, sign ins,queue management, low level data exchange between peers, purchasemanagement for peers, etc. during operation.

In aspects, a media network in accordance with the present disclosuremay include one or more peers configured so as to adjust the mediastream played thereupon (e.g. via an audio enhancement system inaccordance with the present disclosure, etc.). The media network may beconfigured to recognize the identity of a peer based upon the signature(i.e. stream adjustments) generated by that peer. Thus the media networkmay include one or more configuration algorithms, one or morelocalization algorithms, etc. configured so as to compare the intendedmedia stream(s) and the rendered streams as monitored by one or moreobservers in the media space so as to determine the configuration ofpeers, the location of peers within the network, and/or fieldenhancement of the peers during playback of the media stream. The medianetwork algorithms may be configured to insert one or more timingsignals, etc. into the media stream, perhaps uniquely to each of thepeers, so as to more easily extract configuration and/or localizationinformation therefrom.

A media network in accordance with the present disclosure may include aplurality of peers configured to support a real-time gaming application.The real-time gaming application may include passage of media streamsamongst peers within the network. The media network may designate one ormore rendering devices amongst the peers within the network. Based onactions taken within the game, one or more of the peers may becomedesignated as rendering devices or demoted therefrom (e.g. in aninteractive karaoke queuing application, during a conference questionand answer period, etc.). Some non-limiting examples include triviabased queuing of media streams, virtual auctions, virtual auctioning ofqueued media streams, media voting systems, and the like.

In one non-limiting example, the real-time gaming application is anauction, the media network supporting a collection of local peers (e.g.peers at an auction site) as well as one or more remote peers (e.g.peers participating from a remote location). The media network mayinclude a synchronization service in accordance with the presentdisclosure, to manage media delivery between peers on the network. Inaddition, the media network may display images, video, etc. in real-timealong with an associated audio stream. Such information may bedistributed to each peer within the network, while peer responses (i.e.questions, bids, etc.) may be directed to one or more priority peers(e.g. an auctioneer, a coordinator, etc.). The media network may reduceoverall traffic flow on the network by deprioritizing media transfer topeers that are not focused on the articles at hand, etc.

In another non-limiting example, the media network may be configured tosupport a real-time gaming application. The media network may include aplurality of peers, each peer configured to represent a character in thegaming application. The media network may include one or more gamespaces (e.g. spatial groups in accordance with the present disclosure).Each character may include a voice augmentation module (e.g. so as tomodify the voice of the character in real-time), supporting cast (e.g.companion AIs, familiars, etc.), special effects (e.g. related toactions taken by the character, etc.), or the like. One or morecharacters may be attached to a user (e.g. a human user, an AI, etc.)which directs the actions of the character in the game space. It isenvisaged that each human user may interface with the game space via oneor more augmentation devices. Some non-limiting examples of augmentationdevices include audio communication devices (e.g. ear buds, microphones,etc.) and optionally visual augmentation hardware (e.g. heads up displayglasses, etc.). Each augmentation device or collection thereof may be apeer or support a peer on the media network. Such configurations may beadvantageous for augmenting the playing field for human users within thegame space. Visual augmentation hardware may overlay a component in thegame space, while audio communication devices may generate local soundfields (e.g. wave-fields) representative of the game space. The humanuser may interact with the actual game space, along with the augmentedaspects (e.g. audio and visual) as supported and coordinated by themedia network.

In another non-limiting example, the media network may be configured toaccept inputs from wireless appliances or the like. In one non-limitingexample, a near field communication (NFC) tag placed physically withinthe vicinity of the media network may provide means for localizing apeer within the network (e.g. via wireless beacon triangulation,location based identification, proximity detection, etc.), assign/removerights from a peer within the network (e.g. so as to allow/preventrendering, observing, provide access to a stream, provide access to agroup, designate group priorities, etc.).

In one non-limiting example, a double key based approach is used toeasily maintain secure yet intuitive handoff of peers to groups withinthe media network. In one non-limiting example, a passkey may beassigned to the unique ID of a peer within the network. When the peercomes into communication range with an associated NFC chip, the uniqueID of the peer is combined with the unique ID of the NFC chip toautomatically unlock access to a group, assign the peer to a group,designated a function on the group, give a peer priority within a group,combinations thereof, or the like.

One or more peers included in a media network in accordance with thepresent disclosure may be a mobile peer, capable of moving throughoutthe space, controllably switch between functions including observer,rendering, processor, or combinations thereof. The media network mayinclude a configuration service for automatically controlling suchfunctional relationships in accordance with changes in the spatialconfiguration of the network, changes in the media field associated withphysical locations of peers, etc.

In aspects, one or more mobile peers may be configured so as to conservepower there upon during use. The media network may redistributecomputational load, observer functions, etc. off of a power constrainedmobile peer so as to extend the battery life thereof.

In aspects, the media network may be programmed to coordinate the smoothtransfer of a peer from a first group to a second group within thenetwork. The peer may include an observer function to evaluate the mediatransfer during the transfer process. The peer may be configured tomonitor the local media field during the transfer and to direct suchinformation to the media network. The media network may include a soundfield management function configured to adjust the sound levels of oneor more rendering devices (potentially in the first group and/or thesecond group) so as to seamlessly transfer the peer from the first groupto the second group while maintaining the desired sound pressure levelsat the location of the peer during the transfer process.

In aspects, the media network may be programmed to coordinate the soundfield around a plurality of peers, each peer observing a unique mediastream. The network may be configured to manage (through feedback fromone or more peers) the sound field in the vicinity of one or more peersin order to minimize cross talk between media streams, interweavestreams based on the proximity between users, etc. Such a configurationmay be advantageous for minimizing cross talk between users who may belistening to alternative media streams, while in substantially closeproximity to each other.

In aspects, a media network in accordance with the present disclosuremay maintain a sound field, substantially centered around a prioritypeer. As a priority peer moves throughout the media network, the medianetwork may be configured to adjust the local rendering of the mediastream so as to maintain the desired field, while substantiallyminimizing the sound pressure level in regions not associated with thepriority peer.

In aspects, the media network may be configured to support variable userpriorities for spatially organized groups. Thus a group space may become“occupied” if taken over by a peer, such that if a second peer, entersinto the group, it may not be able to direct media flow in that space.In addition, if a lower priority peer progresses into another peer'sgroup, the media heard by the lower priority peer may progressively fadeso as not to interfere with the priority peer's environment. The medianetwork may support functionality so as to override such settings in theevent that they want to participate in the impinging media stream. Thusthe media network may be configured to support localized sound fieldsaround one or more peers connected to the network. Unoccupied spatiallyorganized groups may be made available to peers on a “first come firstserve” basis.

It will be appreciated that additional advantages and modifications willreadily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosurespresented herein and broader aspects thereof are not limited to thespecific details and representative embodiments shown and describedherein. Accordingly, many modifications, equivalents, and improvementsmay be included without departing from the spirit or scope of thegeneral inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

1. (canceled)
 2. A media network for rendering a media stream,comprising: a plurality of peers connected via a local area network; amedia service configured to distribute at least a portion of the mediastream or a stream derived therefrom over the local area network to oneor more of the peers; and an automatic or semiautomatic configurationservice configured to generate a selection criteria based upon one ormore network configuration parameters; at least one of the peersselectively configurable as a rendering device for rendering the mediastream based upon the selection criteria.
 3. The media network inaccordance with claim 2, wherein at least one of the peers isselectively configurable as an observer for assessing a quality criteriafor the media stream.
 4. The media network in accordance with claim 3,wherein at least one of the network configuration parameters depend onthe quality criteria.
 5. The media network in accordance with claim 3,wherein at least one of the network configuration parameters comprises alocation parameter, a social parameter, a capabilities parameter, and/orcombinations thereof.
 6. The media network in accordance with claim 3,further comprising a spatially organized group, the spatially organizedgroup defined by a spatially organized zone, one or more of the peerslocated within a zone defined by the spatially organized group.
 7. Themedia network in accordance with claim 3, wherein one or more of thepeers configured to interact with a user and/or locate a user within amedia field.
 8. The media network in accordance with claim 7, whereinthe selection criteria is dependent upon a network topologicalconfiguration, proximity between one or more of the peers, proximitybetween one or more peers and the user, and/or proximity between one ormore of the peers and a spatially organized group.
 9. The media networkin accordance with claim 3, wherein the media service comprises alocalization algorithm configured to determine a location of one or moreof the peers within the media network.
 10. The media network inaccordance with claim 8, further comprising: one or more proximitysensors, each proximity sensor configured to generate a location signal;and a localization algorithm configured to accept one or more of thelocation signals.
 11. The media network in accordance with claim 9,wherein one or more of proximity sensors are selected from a groupconsisting of a WiFi module, a near field communication module, aninfrared sensor, an LED, a microphone, and combinations thereof.
 12. Amethod for rendering a media stream comprising: connecting a pluralityof peers via a local area network comprising one or more configurationparameters; distributing at least a portion of the media stream or astream derived therefrom over the local area network to one or more ofthe peers; generating a selection criteria based upon one or more of theconfiguration parameters; configuring one or more of the peers asrendering devices for rendering the media stream based upon theselection criteria; and rendering at least a portion of the media streamwith at least one of the rendering devices.